The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-03-05
The MilIetS or Small Seeded Food
Grains

species, it is impossible to state. Its
seed-panicle is, however, loose and
spreading instead Of compact, like
the principal kinds of Sorghum 0uE
gare. One species of sorghum, de-
scribed as SorgItasne DIwr0, is
grown in Italy, in the United States,
Australia, and other countries, for its
panicles as brush-making fibre.
In 1876 there were ninetY-six
acres sown with it in Victoria, which
Welded 1905 bushels Of seed, and
338 cwts. Of fibre. There are many
thousand acres under culture with it
in the United States. In 1875 there
were in the state OF Kansas 1912
acres under broom corn, and S2,552
acres under other millets the pro-
duce was 9,S44, 1863 lbs. of broom
corn and 216, 252 tons of milet. The
following is the mode of culture pur-
sued in America.
The seed is sown with seed-bar
row or drill, as early in Spring as
the ground will admit, i'll rows of 81
feet apart. AS soon as the corn is
above ground it is hoed, and soon
after thinned, so as to leave the
stalks two or three inches apart. 1t
is only hoed in the row, in order to
get out the weeds that are close to
the plants, the remaining space being
left for the harrow and cultivator,
which are run in frequently so as to
keep down the weeds. The cultiva-
ton is finished by running a small,
double mould-board plow, rather
shallow between the rows.
The broom corn is not left to
ripen, as formerly, but is cut while
quite green, and the seed not much
past the milk. 1t was formerly the
practice to lop down the tops of the
corn, and let it hang some time, that
the brush might become Strengthened
in one direction. Now the tops are
not Topped until the brush is ready
to cut, which, as before stated, Is
while the corn rs green. A set of
hands 90 forward and lOp or bend
t1 sssg ss;o sue and tttlerset
follow Immediately and cut off the
tops at the place at which they are
bent, and third set gather the tops
into carts or wagons, which take
them to the factory. Here they are
first sorted over, and parcelled out
into small punches, each bunch being
made up into brush fibre of equal
length. The seed is then taken off by
an apparatus with teeth like a
hatchel. The machine is worked by
six horses, and cleans the brush very
rapidly. 1t is then spread thin to
dry, on racks put up in baildings de-
signed for the purpose. In about a
week, with ordinary weather, it be-
comes so dry that 1t will bear to be
packed closely.
Carpet brooms, velvet brushes and
other kinds of brushes are made OF
the panicles.
MISREPRESENTATION is the rich
est in species among the grasses.
Hitherto about three hundred well
defined species are known, chiefly
tropical and sub tropical. Many are
good fodder plants, whilst the seeds
of several furnish palatable and nu-
tritious table food
In Algeria the following are grown:
p. glomerdta01s subranaa, ordinary
millet (P. miliaceumG the brown
Pekin (P PekmenSaS); the Persian
millet Up. Persicuna); another with a
large spike (P. monostochy'm', IL.
b.; bristling millet p. echimatuao),
II. eriog0natm and the Hungarian
millet (P Germantown or Adlicuna).
ITALIAN MlLLET (Faaic,on Itoti-
can; ,Setmi0 HdIico). This grain is
cultivated in many parts OF India,
and delights in light, elevated, toll
erably dry soil 1t is much priced by
the native indians of all descrip-
tions. who make cakes of it, and also
a kind of porridge; for the purpose
of pastry it is little if at all inferior
to wheat, and when boiled with milk
forms "a light and pleasant meal for
invalids. The Brahmins hold 1t in
high estimation, indeed more than
am other grain. The seedtime for
the first crop is June or July, and
the harvest in September. A second
crop may be had from the same
ground between September and the
end of January. This grain is COM
monty cultivated in the llimalayas,
occasionally up to C,50O feet. There
are three varieties Of Italian millet.
CHENA or INDIAN MILET; We
RAooo (Pluicu,,, niiiGce,eoa, Linz
This does not appear to be crop