124 A MANUAL OF FARM GRASSES 



as it cannot compete with forage crops already grown in 

 the same regions. 



Description. — Proso is an annual 2 or 3 feet tall, witli 

 bristly sheaths and an open finally heavy and drooping 

 panicle. The spikelets are elliptical, smooth, pointed, 

 the first glume about half as long as the spikelet, 3- 

 nerved, the second glume and sterile lemma equal, 

 several-nerved. The fertile lemma or fruit (commonly 

 called the seed) is smooth and shining, oval, somewhat 

 flattened on one side, yellowish or brownish, about 3 mm. 

 long (1/8 inch). 



Botanical and Common Names. — The botanical name 

 is Panicum miliaceum L. Besides the name proso it is 

 known in Europe as common millet. In this country it 

 is sometimes called hog millet because the grain is used 

 for hog feed, and sometimes broom-corn millet because 

 the fruiting panicle looks something like a head or panicle 

 of broom-corn. 



JAPANESE BARNYARD MILLET 



Japanese barnyard millet is sometimes advertised by 

 seedsmen but it has not shown that it has advantages 

 over the forage plants now in use. It is grown in some 

 parts of tropical Asia and Africa for the grain which is 

 used for human food. In this country it has been recom- 

 mended for hay. The species can be grown "at low alti- 

 tudes throughout the United States except in the extreme 

 North, but requires plenty of moisture. Under favorable 

 conditions the yield is fairly heavy. However, the grass 

 is succulent and when cut dries slowly so that the cur- 

 ing of the hay is a rather slow process. Altogether it is a 



