I16 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 
than the earliest of the foxtail millets; hence, they can 
be sown later. In fact, the millets generally should 
be sown later than most other crops, as the seed does 
not germinate readily till the soil is thoroughly warm. 
Because of their very short season, the broom-corn 
millets are especially adapted to the Far North. They 
are also more drouth-resistant than the foxtail millets. 
In recent years, at least, one variety has gained promi- 
nence in the Dakotas and adjacent States under the 
name ‘‘ Hog Millet.’’ Red Lumpis another promising 
variety introduced by the Department of Agriculture 
afew years ago. Another good variety has more re- 
cently been distributed by the Department under its Rus- 
sian name of ‘‘ Proso.’? ‘These varieties do not yield 
a large amount of forage, and they are not much grown 
for hay, but they yield a great abundance of seed, 
which is valuable for feed. Their worst fault is their 
tendency to scatter the seed. The top of the panicle 
ripens first, and the seed from this portion frequently 
falls out before the lower part of the head is ripe. 
When grown for poultry it is not necessary to harvest 
the seed if the field is near enough to the farmstead 
for the poultry to range on it. 
JAPANESE MILLETS.—These are varieties of the 
species Panicum crus-galli, The best-known represen- 
tative of the species is the barn-yard grass (Fig. 23), 
a common weed on moist, rich soils in every section 
of the country. In Arizona and southern California 
certain Indian tribes are said to make use of the 
seed of this grass for food. In parts of the West and 
South volunteer growths of barn-yard grass are fre- 
quently cut for hay. It yields a large amount of coarse 
