MILLETS 



MILLETS 



471 



into the form of an actual head, similar to that of 

 kafir. Each of these sub-groups is made up of a 

 number of varieties, diifering in the color of the 

 plant, shape and hairiness of the leaves, color of 

 seed and other features. Within each sub-group 

 more importance is usually given to the color of the 

 seed, but even this character varies considerably in 

 the same variety. The seed is always considerably 

 larger than in any other millets. The colors 

 of seed generally recognized are white, yellow, 

 red, brown, gray, and black. 



There is much variation in different varie- 

 ties, also in the height of the plant, the time 

 of maturity, and drought-resistance. The best 

 varieties with respect to the last two qualities 

 have been introduced only recently from Rus- 

 sia. Until recent years little attention or 

 study has been given to this group of millets 

 in this country, and naturally no distinction 

 of varieties has been recognized. The princi- 

 pal definitely -named varieties at present 

 known to us are the Early Fortune, Mani- 

 toba, Black Voronezh, Red Voronezh, Red Rus- 

 sian, Tambov, Red Lump and Red Orenburg. 

 Even some of these are very similar to each 

 other, and may be identical. All but the first 

 two have been imported from Russia since 

 1897. Several so-called varieties making up 

 our stock known previous to this period, and 

 imported largely from Germany, Austria-Hun- 

 gary, China and Japan, may be distinct, but 

 have not yet been thoroughly studied. 



During the last six years there has been a 

 great revival in the cultivation of these mil- 

 lets in this country, largely through the influ- 

 ence of the introduction of new and better 



varieties by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture. 



Pearl millet. (Fig. 702.) 



In addition to the above-described groups, which 

 alone may be considered as the true millets, another 

 grass, of the species Pennisetum spicatum, known 

 best as pearl millet, has lately attracted much 

 attention and should be mentioned here. Various 

 other names have been applied to this plant, such 

 as penicillaria, cat-tail millet, Egyptian millet, 

 and Hand's Wonder Forage Plant. It is an erect, 

 succulent annual, growing to the height of six to 

 fifteen feet, and bears its seeds in a compact, slen- 

 der, cylindrical "head" or spike, six to fourteen 

 inches long. There is at present much difl'erence 

 of opinion as to the usefulness and, therefore, the 

 importance of this plant. It is certain that it yields 

 an enormous amount of forage per acre, and may 

 be cut two or three times during the season, on an 



average. It is very succulent when young, but 

 rapidly becomes woody at time of heading, and, 

 therefore, should be cut early for hay. On the 

 other hand, because of its succulence it is diificult 

 to cure for this use. It is apparently most useful 

 for pasturing or soiling, and for the latter purpose 

 should be cut very young. 



Adaptation and distribution of millets. 



The foxtail millets are of rather general 

 adaptation as to climate. Of these, the Ger- 

 man is the variety most largely grown in 

 the South. All the varieties are employed in 

 the Central, Middle and New England states, 

 particularly for hay and soiling purposes. In 

 the middle West the common millet is the 

 best for drought - resistance, though the 

 Hungarian is nearly as good. 



The prosos, to be really successful, are 

 somewhat restricted in range because of the 

 climate. They are extremely drought-resist- 

 ant, but at the same time do not 

 appear to be adapted to low 

 altitudes or southern lati- 

 tudes. They give 



best results in the northern Great 

 Plains and at altitudes above 4,000 

 feet. 



The barnyard millets require much 

 more moisture than those of the other groups 

 and are especially adapted to the Eastern and 

 Central states and to cultivation by irrigation. 



Culture. 



Soil. — ^All millets require a rich, mellow soil. 

 As the roots do not go deep, there should be a con- 

 centration of plant-food as near the surface as 

 possible. For this reason they are rather exhaus- 

 tive on the available food supply in the soil, and 

 the effect frequently may be seen in the follow- 

 ing crop. To concentrate the plant-food near 

 the surface, it may be desirable in some districts 

 to apply special manures to be determined by the 

 nature of the soil in the particular locality. The 

 foxtail millets and prosos, as a rule, should have a 

 rather heavy clay loam that will hold moisture well, 

 when grown in dry districts, and a lighter sandy 

 loam if there is much rainfall. 

 . JJillet is often made a catch-crop after rye or 

 some other early -maturing crop or when crops ( 

 have been destroyed. In such cases, if in a humid I 

 district, it is well to plow immediately after har- 

 vesting the other crop, and then the soil can be 

 put in excellent condition for the millet. If in a 

 dry district, the ground is better simply double- 

 disked without plowing, after which it should be 

 harrowed and the millet drilled ; or if the soil has 

 remained unplowed already for a long period it 

 may be plowed after the double-disking. The first 

 treatment produces a surface mulch of the .stubble 

 and weeds, which absorbs moisture and checks 



