24 



JAPANESE MILLET. (Panicum crus=g;alli major.) 



The best recent introduction for the Silo and Cutting Green. 



Entirely distinct from any other millet, grows tall and produces 

 an enormous crop. It may be sown from the middle of May to 

 the 1st of July, broadcast, at the rate of 15 lbs. per acre, but it is 

 better to sow it in drills, 12 to 18 inches apart, using 10 to 12 lbs. 

 per acre, and hoed between the rows to keep down all weeds until 

 the plant attains a height of 12 to 18 inches, when its rapid growth 

 will smother all weeds. It grows 6 to 8 feet high, stands remark- 

 ably well notwithstanding its great height, and yields from 10 to 

 12 tons green fodder per acre. When cured it makes an excellent 

 quality of hay, and its feeding value is far superior to corn fodder, 

 and it is much relished by all kinds of stock, whether green or 

 cured. If to be made into hay, cure as you would a heavy crop of 

 clover. An ideal ensilage mixture ma}' be composed of two parts 

 of this millet to one part of soja beans (see page 24), mixed when 

 filling the silo. The soja beans supply the albuminoids and fat in 

 which the Corn and Millet are deficient. This mixture forms 

 a complete balanced ration for milch cows without 

 the addition of grain, though it is, of course, advisable to 

 feed grain occasionally as a change. This ensilage combination 

 will certainly become popular, and when generally used, as we 

 predict it will be, it will result in a saving of hundreds of thous- 

 ands of dollars annually to the dairymen and farmers of the 

 United States. This Millet does not endure drought well, except 

 it bi sown early in retentive soil, and it is not adapted to the cli- 

 mate, nor is it recommended for the Southern States ; but north of 

 Washington, and especially for good, rich soils, we confidently 

 recommend its general cultivation. It will produce a fair second 

 cutting, if sown early in May, and cut when in blossom. (See cut.) 



Especially valuable for the Northern and New England States 



FROM EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION, 



OF THE 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



FOR GREEN FODDER AND THE SILO. " Of Japanese Millet several 

 pieces, of an acre or more each, were sown for feeding green or for the silo. 

 The earliest, sown broadcast about the middle of May on rich land, one peck 

 of seed to the acre, averaged about six feet in height, and produced over 15 

 TONS PER ACRE. This was cut from day to day, beginning before the 

 millet had blossomed. Another field of about an acre, sown the last of June, 

 yielded at the rate of rather over iS tons per acre. Another field, sown July 

 26th, after a crop of hay was removed, yielded about 12 tons per acre. The 

 crop of the two last fields was put into the silo. That cut from day to day, 

 and fed to cows, was much relished. Its superiority to well-eared Bint corn 

 fodder was very apparent. Cows with both before them always take the 

 millet first : they cousume it without waste, while they are apt to leave a part 

 of the stalks of the corn as it approaches maturity. In alternating this feed 

 with corn fodder, the rows invariably increased in milk when put upon the 

 millet, and fell off when changed to corn. 



It has been ensiled with soja beans, — about two parts by weight of the 

 millet and one of the beaus. This combination makes very superior silage." 



FOR HAY. "A more extensive trial of this millet for hay has been car- 

 ried out this year than ever before. It is coarse and difficult to dry. I have 

 alwavs felt that these qualities would render it undesirable as a crop for hay. 

 We have, however, cured it successfully this year, mostly in small cocks, as 

 clover is often cured ; and the result is encouraging. The hay is coarse, but 

 is freely eaten by horses, being preferred to a good sample of timothy, red 

 top and clover mixture The yield of the millet is very large, having on good 

 land amounted to 6 tons per acre of well cured hay. It will produce a fair 

 second cutting if sown early in May and cut when in blossom." 



Hundreds of our customers who ha-'e procured seed of Japanese Millet from us 

 during the past two seasons can endorse the above. 



Price, ioc. lb.; 10 lbs., 90c; 100 lbs., $7. So. 



