The Cereals. 



59 



The seed is sown from June to August; the crop is cut 

 from August to December, but chiefly between September and 

 November. In the North-West Provinces and Oudh, where 

 it is extensively grown (over 2 million acres), the plant often 

 attains a height of 6 to 8 feet ; the yield of grain is S/^ to 

 7 maunds. 



Composition of Bulrush Millet (Unhusked). 



In I lb. 



The nutrient-ratio is here i : y6, and the nutrient-value 89^^. 



This grain contains "42 per cent, of potash and '68 per cent, 

 of phosphoric acid. 



In Patnd. (where this millet is commonly eaten), it is con- 

 sidered somewhat heating ; in Mirzipur it is used in the 

 cold season by the poorer classes. It is ground into flour 

 and made into cakes ; or it is parched, coarsely ground, and 

 then mixed with water, being eaten with giir, curds, etc. 

 The chopped stalks are good fodder. 



Another Pennisetum, P. cenchroides (Rich.), is common in 

 many parts of the Punjab where its seeds are swept up from 

 the ground to be used as human food. Mr. Duthie names P. 

 sanguinale (L.) as also furnishing an edible grain. 



