104 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



appearance of stock, that led people to depend less upon it. 

 At one period, it was deemed sufficient food for any stock, 

 without the aid of anything else. The fodder was hay and 

 the seed was corn. But later investigations have demon- 

 strated the fact, that when hay ripens seed, its usefulness 

 as a hay measurably ceases. Were stock fed exclusively on 

 seed-heads, with a sufficiency of good hay, they would 

 thrive exceedingly well, or if the millet is cut while in 

 the flower, or even when the seed is in the milky state, and 

 fed to stock in combination with grain, they would do well. 

 But even then, it is much inferior to oats, timothy, or herds 

 grass. Its only special recommendation is, that it yields a 

 larger proportion of hay than other grasses. It requires a 

 rich, dry soil, and will stand almos^ any amount of 

 droughts, seeming to dry up during the heat, but when it 

 rains it will start off with renewed life, and do as well as 

 ever. It makes large quantities of seed per acre, the Hun- 

 garian yielding 30 bushels ; the Missouri 40 ; the Tennes- 

 see 50 ; and the German from 60 to 80 bushels per acre. 

 The Hungarian millet is a better hay than either of the 

 others, but its yield is much less. The Tennessee millet 

 perhaps yields more hay than either of the other three, but 

 the Missouri has more reputation as a feed for cattle. 

 Should it be wished, however, to sow for a money crop, it 

 will be far preferable to sow the German millet. The Hun- 

 garian has a small head, a simple spike, while the others 

 have compound spikes, most notably the German. It is 

 easily raised, at less cost than corn, and makes, on good 

 ground, nearly double as many bushels as the latter per 

 acre. It is a good grain for stock of any kind, if crushed, 

 the smallness of the seed preventing comminution by the 

 teeth. Should it be desirable to raise it for stock, it will 

 make an excellent food, to feed it in the head, without the 

 expense of threshing. For all kinds of fowls it is unsur- 

 passed, and it is a powerful stimulant to laying eggs. 

 Chickens having a supply to go to, will continue to lay 



