34 BULLETIN 465, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



The northern limit of the range of wild millet so far as known does 

 not much surpass the latitude of the northern boundary of the 

 United States. From there the plant ranges indefinitely to the south- 

 ward, occurring generally in rich moist soils or swamps at least to 

 Central America. 



PROPAGATION. 



Wild millet is easily cultivated and reseeds itself. It requires a 

 moist and preferably a rich soil, as the edge of a marsh or lake, and 

 will grow in water at least a foot in depth. The soil should be 



Fig. 31. — Fruiting heads of wild millet. (One-third natural size.) 



broken up (mainly for the purpose of discouraging other plant 

 "growth) and the seeds sown thickly in spring. Once established, the 

 plant will take care of itself. The nearer to water it is planted the 

 more available will it be for duck food. It is a splendid plant to use 

 for lowlands that are flooded in winter. 



The seeds are' sold by most seedsmen under the name barnyard 

 grass. A variety has been widely advertised as Japanese barnyard 

 millet or billion-dollar grass. The plant is also known as cockspur 

 grass and sour grass. It may be cultivated in any part of the United 

 States having the proper soil conditions. 



