BARB YARD MILLET 79 



When used for soiling purposes, harvesting 

 should begin when the plant is just beginning to 

 show heads. At this stage, the plant is very suc- 

 culent and is eagerly eaten by all farm stock. 

 Inasmuch as it grows so rapidly, and because it 

 develops and hardens so quickly in dry weather, 

 it cannot be used for a long period for soiling pur- 

 poses, from six to eight days being the range under 

 ordinary seasonal conditions. Because proper at- 

 tention is not given to this point, many farmers 

 regard this kind of millet unfavorably. When cut 

 at this stage of growth, Barnyard millet contains 

 a relatively small percentage of crude fiber, 

 although it is much richer in the non-nitrogenous 

 substances than are oats, wheat or rye. It con- 

 tains, on the average, about 15 per cent of dry 

 matter. The large yields of green forage,— eight to 

 twelve tons, or an average on good soils of about 

 eight tons, — make the total amount of food very 

 satisfactory; and animals will consume a relatively 

 larger proportion of it than of certain other kinds. 

 As high as seventy- five pounds per day have been 

 fed with satisfaction. 



For hay, Barnyard millet should be cut just as 

 it is heading out. Although somewhat difficult to 

 cure, it makes a forage which is very palatable 

 and useful for winter feeding. Yields of hay have 

 often reached as high as three to four tons per 

 acre; but it is not recommended for hay- making 



