The Cereals. 



43 



it has become naturalised in Ceylon. It generally needs but 

 little rain. It ascends the Himalaya as far as 10,000 feet. 

 It is extensively cultivated in some parts of Purniah District, 

 and is used also in Bhigulpur, Patnd, and Champiran, the 

 yield being considerable. It is a quick-growing plant,* a second 

 crop being often obtained from the .grain shed in harvesting 

 the first. It proves a useful crop in times of scarcity, not only 

 from its rapid growth, but from its flourishing in seasons of 

 comparatively small rainfall. Mr. Duthie, however, states that 

 in the districts on which he reports, this crop needs a good 

 deal of watering, and that the yield does not amount to more 

 than from 6 to 8 maunds per acre. In the Deccan it is sown 

 in June and July, and reaped in November and December. 



Composition of Chena Millet (Husked). 



The nutrient-ratio is here i ; 6, and the nutrient-value 89. 



It should be noted here that a European sample of this millet, 

 analysed without the husk, gave 15*3 per cent, of albuminoids, 

 6 1 "6 per cent, of starch, 5 per cent, of oil, and 3-5 per cent, of 

 fibre ; these figures correspond to a nutrient-ratio of i : 4*8, and 

 a nutrient-value of 88, and would lead to a still higher estimate 

 of the worth of this food. 



This millet is boiled and eaten with milk and sugar, or with 

 dal in curries, or as " mara," the grains being slightly boiled, 

 dried, parched in hot sand, and then sifted from the husks ; 

 the "mara ".is then eaten with sour milk — this preparation is 

 a favourite food at marriage-feasts. 



* Mr. J. A. Baines states, however, that its growth is slower than that of Italian 

 millet, 



