130 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 
The head of all brome grasses resembles a head of oats; 
and the word “ brome” was made by shortening bromus, 
now the Latin name of these grasses, but in ancient times the 
name of the oat. 
Red Top. — In the eastern half of the country this is next 
to timothy in popularity. It is not only valuable for hay, 
me) DU also makes a good pasture. It 
grows especially wellin damp ground; 
where the rainfall is light it does not 
thrive. It resembles June grass in 
appearance, but is taller and stands 
: more erect; the heads have more 
f| numerous branches and have a 
purple tinge. It ripens rather early 
and then becomes hard and tough 
so that stock do not relish it. 
Millet. — The millets, of which 
here are many varieties, are annual 
grasses and are of great value to 
farmers because when other hay is 
insufficient they may secure a supply from this source in a 
few months after seeding. A crop of millet is also helpful 
in cleaning the land of weeds, for it is seeded late in the 
season when weeds have started growing and are then killed 
by the cultivation. Millet makes a rapid and dense growth 
and smothers any weeds that attempt to compete for place. 
It stands dry weather pretty well and is well adapted to 
sections of the country where rain is not always abundant 
insummer. The different kinds of millets are usually arranged 
in three classes — foxtail millets, broom corn millets, and 
Japanese millets. 
(a) Foxtail Mullets.— These resemble foxtail or pigeon 
Rep Top 
