. 4 
seven-nerved upper one. The lower glume of the sterile flower is as 
long as the upper empty glume, and much like it in texture, while the 
palet is thin, obtuse, and much shorter. The perfect flower is one-third 
shorter than the upper empty glume, oblong; the flowering glume and 
its palet, as in most species of Panicum, is thick and of hard texture. 
This can not be considered a valuable grass, but it frequently occurs 
in negleeted and poor land in sufficient quantity to afford considerable 
grazing for stock. It makes its growth late in the season, usually 
reaching the flowering state in August. Dr. Mohr, of Mobile, remarks 
that it is not much relished by stock, being rather harsh and dry. 
Professor Phares says: 
It forms strongly rooted spreading clumps, often completely carpeting the ground 
with pretty, glossy, light-green foliage. 
(Plate 18.) 
SETARIA. 
In this genus the flowers are constructed as in the Panicums, but they are arranged 
in narrow, more or less cylindrical spikes. Below the spikelets are several bristles, 
generally longer than the spikelets, which remain on the spike after the fall of the ~ 
flowers. 
Setaria Italica (Hungarian Grass; German Millet). 
This grass is supposed to be a native of the East Indies, but it has 
been extensively introduced into most civilized countries. It has long 
been cultivated as a fodder-grass both in Europe and in this country. 
It is an annual grass of strong, rank growth, the culms erect, 2 to 3 feet 
high, with numerous long and broad leaves, and a terminal, spike-like, 
nodding panicle, 4 to 6 inches long, and often an inch or more in diam- 
eter. The varieties and forms of this grass differ greatly, so much so 
that some of them have been considered different species; but the gen- 
eral opinion of botanists is that they are all varying forms of the same 
species, dependent upon the character of the soil, thickness of seeding, 
moisture or dryness, and time of sowing. It owes its value as a fodder 
plant to the abundance of its foliage, and to the large quantity of seed 
produced. In some instances objection has been made to this grass on 
account of the bristles which surround the seed, and which have been said 
to penetrate the stomachs of cattle so as to cause inflammation and death. 
But it is plain that this opinion is not generally held, as the cultivation 
of the grass is widely extended and everywhere recommended. 
For forage it should be cut as soon as it blooms, when, of course, it is 
worth nothing for seed; butitis most valuable for forage and exhausts — 
the iand much less. If left for the seeds to mature they are very abun- 
dant and rich feed, but the stems are worthless, while the soi! is more 
damaged. 
Professor Phares says: 
The matured stems’are very hard, indigestible, and injurious, and the ripe seeds 
will founder more promptly than corn, and sometimes produce diabetes if moldy and 
teo freely used. If ent at the right stage the whole plant is safe and very valuable 
