120 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



grown and fed extensively over nearly the entire 

 country. As far as chemical composition is concerned 

 it has a slight advantage over timothy, as shown by 

 the following figures, giving the averages for all pub- 

 lished analyses in the United States up to 1890 : * 



DRY MATTER 



Ash 



Protein 



Fibre 



Nitrogen 

 Free Extract 



Fat 



Timothy 



5-1 



6.8 



33-5 



51.7 



2.9 



Hungarian grass .... 



6-5 



8.1 



30.0 



53-1 



2.3 



The slight difference in the content of fat is imma- 

 terial, and is counterbalanced by the excess of nitrogen 

 free extraCt in the Hungarian grass. The latter con- 

 tains considerably more protein and less fibre, both of 

 which are advantageous. 



The productiveness of millet, its palatability, and 

 the nutritious quality of the hay would apparently 

 justify the popularity which this crop has had at va- 

 rious times since its introduction in America. In the 

 year 1885, according to Professor Crozier, the acreage 

 of millet exceeded that of timothy in the State of 

 Iowa. It has, however, a number of objectionable 

 features, on account of which the area cultivated has 

 fluctuated a great deal. It is coarse in texture, par- 

 ticularly when seeded thinly, and there is more or less 

 prejudice against coarse grasses, though this matter is 

 of no real significance if the grass is both nutritious 

 and palatable. The hair-like bristles in the seed head 



* Bulletin it, Office Experiment Stations, United States Department of 



Agriculture. 



