30 ASSOCIATED SEEDS, INC. 


A seed crop of Hubam clover (page 27) at harvest 
MILLETS 
Millets have been grown since ancient times for food, feed and hay. Of the several 
kinds and varieties of millet-—Big German, Pearl, Proso, Hungarian, and Siberian— 
the first named is most widely grown because of its high yields of hay and seed, and 
its wide range of climatic adaptation. Millets are warm weather crops, not cold 
hardy or drought resistant; and having a very extensive but shallow, fine, fibrous root 
system. They require a loose, loamy, moist soil, highly fertile, free of trash and well 
worked. The best quality hay results when cut in the bloom stage. 
COMMON Setaria italica 
A very quick growing variety that produces in about 60 days a first class quality 
of millet hay valued on account of numerous slender stems and abundant 
leaves. Adapted to drier soils than the other species. The yellow to straw 
colored, shiny seeds are a main constituent of prepared bird foods. Should not 
be confused with Hungarian yellow to purple seed, or Siberian, which is always 
orange in color. 
BIG GERMAN Setaria italica 
Introduced to American agriculture about 1870 and long regarded as the most 
valuable millet for producing consistent high yields of fine quality hay, in about 
60 days, or seed, highly prized as feed for poultry about’ two weeks later. Its 
range of adaptation may be increased by row planting, and cultivation controls 
weed growth, conserves moisture, and reduces the soil condition referred to as 
“sod bound”. Plants 3-5 ft. tall, stems coarse and very leafy. Seedheads large, 
long, heavy seeded; seed small, yellow; seedhulls intact. 
