The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-03-19
$40
The MilIetS or Small Seeded Food
Grains
Concluded.

SAwA MILLEr (OpZiSme'aus .tim-
0ae,taceus, Kunth Panicot''a .taatnae'a-
soceuna, Roxb. )-This plant is much
less cultivated in India than r. MI
eaceuna. 1t delights in light, toler-
ably dryish soil; the same ground,
according to DR.. Roxburgh, yields
two crops, between the first of the
rains in June and July and the end
of January. The seed is wholesome
and nourishlng; it is an article OF
diet amongst the lower classes OF the
natives, and yields about ftty-told in
a good soil. The seed is light, and
easy of digestion; it makes very pal
atable buildings, which children ap-
pear more partial to than those made
of rice. to which grain, when boiled,
it bears striking resemblance, both
In taste and appearance.
CUMBoo OR SPIKED MlLLET Pen
ScIzaria spicata, Swartz; Pemaiseta''a
tyohoideum, Rich. Hotcus sp5cat'@s,
Lin. Pmaicana spicatae0s, Roxb. -
Terminal cylindric spike erect, as
thick as a mans thumb, from to 9
inches long; seed obovate, pearl'col-
ored, smooth, with hilum.
This plant yields in India about
66S lbs. of seed, and tons Of straw
Der acre. In some localities the grain
IS called baira or bajree, and with the
usual adiuncts of little milk, etc,
4orr,s the chief article of diet OF
very large number
Compared with rice, it is consider
ably more nutritious, containing
about 1O4 per cent of gluten, and
giving a,proportion between the car
bonaceous and nitrogenous COM
pounds of from Z to y per cent. of
the former to one OF the latter;
whereas the kind of rice most rich i'll
gluten contains only about 81 per
cent. of that substance, and gives the
proportion of little more than 9 of
the acknowledgements to the nitrogen
GUS, thus involving the addition OF a
large quantity Of some pulse or extra
nitrogenoas substance to maize,-the
proportion between the flesh forming
and heat and fat yielding constitu-
ents. 1t is this grain which is chiefly
used for the Couscoussou of North
ern Africa. 1t is known by the
French as Uekkele, and report re-
Gently presented to the Agricultural
Society Of Bouches du Rhone recon-
mends its culture in the Landes and
Pyrenees. In certain districts it
rises to the height Of 8 or 10 feet.
The seed may be planted in the close
of April. In September or October
the seed-spikes ripen; the stalks,
chopped, may be led to cattle. With
the decorticated pith of the stalk a
pleasant beer can be made by the ad-
dition of hops.
This grain is, from the shape OF its
seed-spikes, called candle millet. 1t
Is the benitchen Of the Arabs OF
Africa. The spiked millet is as COM
mon in Africa as i'll Asia, at dis
lance bearing some resemblance to
our indigenous cat's-tail grass, or
timothy, in the form and size of its
spikes. Many stems often proceed
from the same root, and these are
from to feet in height. The fruit
spike is dense, compact, and thicker
than a mans thumb, from 6 to 8
inches in length in India, or twice as
long as it grows in Africa. Except
sorghum this is the most commonly
cultivated grain in India.
Roxburgh says that 1t is sown
about the beginning of the rains, that
is, about the end of June or begin
ming of July, and is ripe in Septem-
Der. 1t is much cultivated in the
higher lands on the coast of Coro-
mandel. The soil it likes is one that
is loose and rich; in such it yields
upwards of hundred-fold; the same
ground will yield second crop Of
this or some other sort OF dry grain
during October, November, Deem
Der and January.
The stalk is almost useless as fod-
der when dry, but cattle are some
times fed with it when green. The
seeds are rather heating, and are used
in cold weather mostly as flour. In
Africa a kind of beer is said to be
made from the matted gram.
The percentage composition OF
the grain is:
Water. ll.oU
heterogeneous substances. ..---- 1913
rat. --------------------- 4.Oo
Water. n.75
RAGGY, OR RAGGEE (E2eatsine cor
Ocana).-This grain is of high impor-