CHAPTER XII 



THE ANNUAL GRASSES FOR GRAIN AND 

 FORAGE 



THE MILLETS 



The term "millet" as employed in general usage 

 includes a number of species, all of which are members of 

 the grass family, and may be grown either for grain or 

 for forage. In Japan, China, India, and other parts of 

 Asia, they are grown largely for the grain, and therefore 

 belong to the cereals. In the United States, however, 

 they are generally grown for forage, and are most often 

 classed with the forage crops. The millets, while includ- 

 ing several distinct species, have in common the fact that 

 they are all annuals, similar in their habits of growth and 

 cultural requirements. The millets commonly grown in 

 America may be divided into three principal groups, 

 namely, the fox-tail millets, the broom-corn millets, and 

 the barnyard millets. 



216. The fox-tail millets, Choetochloa italica. — This 

 group of millets gets its name from the resemblance of 

 its members to the common fox-tail weed from which they 

 are supposed to have been derived. Members of this 

 group are the most commonly grown, and are also the most 

 important of the millets in the United States. They are 

 all erect, hot weather plants, with a spike-like head, which 

 distinguishes them from the other groups. They are 



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