1.02 ;KARfcrlE&'s BOOK OF GRASSES 



cultivation, and consequently has few or no indigenous weeds. 

 It is on this account that millet can seldom be cultivated to 

 any great extent. One weeding is rarely sufficient for it ; for, 

 if the soil is at all disposed to produce weeds, it will require a 

 second, if not a third each one following about a fort-night or 

 three weeks after the other. 



"The best way is to tear up the weeds with hand rakes con- 

 structed for the purpose ; this mode of proceeding answers far 

 better than hand weeding, as by its means not only all the weeds 

 may be eradicated, but the supernumerary plants may be thin- 

 ned off. The effect of this cultivation on the success and vege- 

 tation of the crop is wonderful; after it the millet shoots up so 

 rapidly that the weeds seldom have time to grow again, or, if 

 they do, it is in small numbers, and they may easily be pulled 

 up. 



"Great attention is requisite to seize on the exact moment at 

 which the plant attains maturity, especially with common mil- 

 let, which ripens very unequally, and is very liable to shed its 

 seed. This evil is, however, much less to be feared where the 

 crop has been cultivated, and thinned in the way we have men- 

 tioned. Those who cultivate millet only in patches, cut off the 

 spikes as they ripen, and carry them home in sacks; but as 

 this can be done only where the plant is cultivated but little, 

 the reaping must be commenced as soon as the greater part of 

 the plants are ripe, and performed with great care with a sickle. 



"This plant must not be left on the ground in swaths, be- 

 cause if rain comes on, and it gets wetted, it sheds its grain. It 

 should, on the contrary, be immediately carried to the barns 

 and there threshed, and freed fk>m all impurities and foreign 

 substances as much as possible. The grain should then be 

 spread in very thin layers over the floor and stirred about ev- 

 ery day with a rake until perfectly dry, otherwise it will become 

 heated and bitter. The straw is tied up even though moist, 

 and carried into the air to be dried ; if not properly dried it 

 will become mouldy on being stacked. This straw is much es- 

 teemed as provender for cattle. 



"Although when cultivated to any great extent it is not pos- 

 sible to cut ofl the ears separately as they ripen, it is worth while 

 to gather all those is this manner which will be required for 

 seed. Grain which ripens thoroughly, and of which proper 

 care has been taken, shoots up evenly, and produces perfect 

 plants, free from disease, and especially from smut, which fre- 

 quently manifests itself in this grain where proper precautions 

 have not been taken. The portion of millet which is intended 

 for seed should bejjpreserved in some place through which there 

 is a free circulation of air, and where it can become perfectly 

 dry ; it should be threshed when wanted. The best way of free- 

 ing millet from its husk is by making use of mills somewhat re- 



