344 FIELD CROPS 



436. Uses. The foxtail millets are largely grown as 

 emergency forage crops to supplement the usual hay and 

 pasture supply. The hay is useful for feeding to all kinds of 

 animals and is as palatable and nutritious as that made from 

 most of the other grasses. Best results may be obtained 

 when it does not make up the entire forage ration of the 

 animals, but is fed with clover, alfalfa, or other hay. It 

 should be fed with caution to horses, for if fed in quantity 

 it is likely to cause serious disorders of the kidneys. Fox- 

 tail millet is also useful for soiling and pasture purposes, 

 being available within a few weeks of seeding. The seed is 

 not usually used for feeding except to poultry, though where 

 it is produced in quantity, good results have been obtained 

 from feeding it to hogs, cattle, and sheep. It is better to 

 grind the seed before feeding to hogs and cattle. 



437. Varieties. The principal varieties of foxtail millet 

 are the Common, the Hungarian, and the German. Com- 

 mon millet is the earliest of the three in maturing. The 

 heads are rather loose at the base, but more compact toward 

 the top, about 6 inches long, nodding, green in color, turning 

 to yellowish brown when ripe. The seeds are large, yellow, 

 and oval. Hungarian millet is later in maturing, with 

 shorter, erect, compact, dark purple heads. The leaves are 

 narrower and darker green than those of common millet, 

 and the plant produces rather less hay. The seeds are 

 purple, but there are usually more or less yellow, partially 

 matured grains. German millet does not stool as freely as 

 the other two varieties, is later in maturing, and the growth is 

 ranker and coarser. It yields well, but the stems are stiff 

 and woody and the hay is less palatable than that from either 

 Common or Hungarian. The heads are 6 to 8 inches long, 

 broader than those of Common millet, and usually nodding. 

 The seeds are small and round, and yellow or golden in color. 



