418 ON THE MILLETS AND OTHER SMALL-GRAINED GRASSES. 



and adds to their abundance the wholesomeness and usefulness of a 

 mixed diet. 



In the various districts of Bornou, a species of millet is produced, 

 which is called by the inhabitants gussub, and upon which both men and 

 animals are almost exclusively fed. By the poorer classes it is frequently 

 eaten, simply parched, or even without any culinary preparation ; other 

 persons crush and then steep the seeds in water previous to eating them, 

 and some few,- who are the epicures of the land, clear the grain from 

 the husk, pound it, and make it up into a light paste with melted fat ; 

 this favourite dish is called kaddel. 



Panictjms, or Loose-Headed Millets. 



Common, or Small Millet (Panicum miliaceum, Willi!.). — Waragoo, 

 Tamil ; Cheena, Hindustani ; Worga, Teloogo ; Iddal Jungo, Singhalese. 

 The Panicums were probably so named scientifically fvom panis, bread, 

 or panicula, a panicle. The panicle is loose, nodding ; seed, when ripe, 

 about one-eighth of an inch in length, oval, and slightly pointed at 

 both ends, smooth, shining ; height, about three and a-half feet. 



In the book of the Prophet Ezekiel (iv. 9) is contained the only 

 allusion to millet. By some writers, the millet is conjectured to be the 

 parched corn which Boaz gave to Ruth, and which David carried to his 

 brethren. The native country of the millet is supposed to be Tartary, 

 where it is largely used for food. In the time of Columella, it was 

 cultivated in Italy, who mentions it as growing abundantly in the 

 Campania. 



In America, the common millet is often known to yield twenty 

 bushels per acre, after one quarter of a bushel sown ; and the hay is so 

 relished by cattle, and horses in particular, notwithstanding its seeming 

 coarseness, that they prefer it to that of common Timothy grass. In 

 Germany, and other southern countries of Europe, also in America, 

 some parts of Asia, and in most countries lying under the warmer lati- 

 tudes of the temperate zone, the millets form a very essential article in 

 the domestic economy of the inhabitants ; and when deprived of the 

 husk, are used whole, as rice, or ground into meal, or flour, and made 

 into bread, &c. In England, millet is chiefly used for feeding small birds. 



This plant has been introduced into Algeria with success, from 3,000 

 to 3,500 kilogrammes of grain having been obtained per hectare. 



The following varieties are arranged according to their time, of 

 ripening, the difference between the earliest and the latest being only 

 about a week : — 



1. Common Millet. Panicle rather fasciculated, and nodding a good 

 deal to one side. Colour, light green ; colour of the seed, yellow. 



2. Grey-seeded Millet. Panicle more loose and spreading than that of 

 the last variety ; seed greyish coloured ; panicle darker green than the last. 



3. White-seeded Millet. Panicle light green ; more contracted, or 

 bundled, and nodding, than in any of the others ; seeds white. 



