Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14
An Experiment with Pearl MIlIet.

Pearl millet has been cultivated for some
years as n forage plant, in some of the
southern states, as African Cane"
" Egyptian Millet," japan Millet," and
in some places as d" Horse Millet," but
little was known of it at the north before
last year, and then only in such small
quantities rs to hardly allow of n fair
trial. From what we saw of it in 1877,
we determined to give it a thorough trial
this season. A piece of good strong loamy
ground was prepared as if for beet or
turnip crop, by manuring with stable ma
nure, ut the rate of ten tons to the acre,
blowing ten inches deep, and thoroughly
narrowing. The millet was then sown in
drills eighteen inches apart. at the rate OF
eight quarts to the acre. We sowed on
the 18th of May, about the date we plant
corn; in twelve days the plants were up so
that cultivator could be run between the
rows, after which no further culture was
necessary, for the growth became so rapid
and luxuriant rs TO crowd down every
weed that attempted TO get foothold.
The first cutting was made July lst-
As days after sowing; it was then feet
high, covering the whole ground, and the
weighed, green, at the rate of 80 tons per
acre; this, when dried, gave 1-2
tons per acre as hay. After cutting, II
second growth started and was cut August
15th-45 days from time of first cutting.
Its height was feet; it weighed this time
at the rate of So tons TO the acre, green,
and 8 tons dried. The third crop started
as rapidly as the second, but the cool Sep
TENDER nights lessened its tropical luxuri-
ance, so that this crop, which was cut
on October LIST, only weighed 10 tons
green, and IL tons dried. The growth
was simply enormous, thus: LIST crop in
45 days. gave 30 tons green, or l-2 tons
dry; I'd crop in 10 days, gave So tons
green, Or tons dry; I'd crop in 40 days,
gave ten tons green, or l-2 tons dry.
The aggregate weight being 95 tons of
green fodder in 1856 days from the date of
sowing, and l6 tons when dried to hay.
This exceeds the clover meadows of Mid
Lothian, which, when irrigated by the
sewerage from the city of Edinburgh, and
cut every four weeks, gave an aggregate
of IS tons of green clover per acre. There
is little doubt that pearl millet is equally
as nutritious rs corn fodder, which it re-
sembles even more than it does any of
the other milets. We found that ali our
horses and cattle ate it greedily whether
green or dry. If sowing in drills is not
practicable, it may be sown broadcast,
using double the quantity of seed-say l6
quarts per acre. The ground should be
smoothed by the harrow, and again lightly
narrowed after sowing; if rolled after
narrowing, all the better. / know of no
farm crop that will better repay high ma
nurng, but so great is its luxuriance, that
1t will produce better crop without ma
nure than any other plant | know Of In
those parts OF the southern states where
hay cannot be raised, this is q substitute of
the easiest culture, and being of tropical
origin, it will luxuriate in their long hot
summers. Even though our northern sea-
sons may be too short to mature the seeds,
our experiments in New Jersey this sum-
mer show what abundant crops may be
expected if the similar conditions are Sc
cured. Pearl millet as n fodder plant
presents new feature in our agriculture,
and l feel sure that within ten years we
shall wonder how we ever got on without
1t. Besides our own testimony given
above, we have received the most satisiac-
tory letters from experienced men in DIFF
ferent parts of the country to whom we
sent seeds of pearl millet for trial. and all
are unanimous as to its enormous produc-
tiveness and great value. From all we
have seen and can learn, we are fully
convinced that pearl millet is to be one Of
the great fodder plants of the future.
PETER HENDERSON.
We have seen it used more than any
other as later crop put in after hayine
where the grass is cut early, the sod turned
over, little manure put on and we'll har-
rowed in, and the millet put on. In thi.
way good supplemental crop can be
secured which will materially help out
the hay NOW in the spring if it is not
desired for fall feeding.