THE MILLETS 109 
circumstances. Like most other crops, the length of 
time required to mature a crop of millet depends on 
the season. Since it is grown largely as a catch crop, 
it is sometimes necessary to cut it early to get the hay 
out of the way for anothercrop. It undoubtedly makes 
good hay when cut even before it begins ‘to head, if 
properly cured, but the yield is larger and the quality 
just as good if cut in bloom. ‘The quality of the hay 
deteriorates after the seed begins to form, and it is un- 
wise to allow it to reach this stage unless a crop of seed 
is desired. In that case the seed should be allowed to 
get fully ripe. Hay from ripe millet is undesirable for 
two reasons: it is not so palatable nor so digestible as 
when cut earlier, and the hardened bristles become a 
source of annoyance and even danger to stock. Yet 
stock will eat millet straw from which the ripe seed 
has been threshed, and some farmers consider this straw 
very good feed. 
Millet is well adapted for use as a green feed, 
and it is so used to some extent in the East, where the 
soiling system is coming to be generally practiced 
on dairy-farms. It is strong feed, and should be used 
with care, particularly when fed in the green state to 
horses. It is also suitable for use as temporary pas- 
ture. If hurdles are used, and care is taken not to 
graze too closely, it may be grazed over three or four 
times in a season. 
The amount of millet seed required to sow an acre 
is about two pecks when sown for hay, and one peck 
when sown for seed. Insome sections millet is sown in 
rows and cultivated, when grown for the seed. When 
thus sown a bushel of seed is sufficient for six or eight 
