Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-07-15
farluer's Gu(umu.
SPEED THE PLoW.'
Millet.

We have found this plant OF great
value as a substitute for hay; and also
as soiling plant. We believe Cana
dian farmers would find it profitable
if thew cultivated it more extensively.
We have known some who have Gull
tivated it not to be fully satisfied with
the results; but we believe this was
due to an imperfect knowledge OF the
plant. There are several varieties;
the kinds most grown ia this Provl-
ence are commonly known as the Fox
tail millet and Hungarian grass; some
authorities highly recommend the
Golden millet.
Millet is rapid and a rank grower,
and produces large quantities OF green
food, hay, or seed; it may be sown IN
drills or broadcast. If sown broad
cast for hay, forty quarts of seed per
acre will be required, but if in drills
for seed, eight to ten quarts will be
sufficient. 1t requires dry, rich, and
finely pulverized soil, though it will
grow on light thin land, but, like
cereals, is not so remunerative. The
sowing should not be done until the
weather is warm, say from the 10Th
ofJune until the 18th July. 1t ripens
is sixty to seventy-fve days if the
weather is favorable, and for this rsa-
son should commend itself to the
agriculturist. Frequently clover and
grasses become partially winter-killed,
but whether they may be profitable
left for meadow purpose is not always
discernible until it is too late to pre-
pare the ground for cereal crop. In
such cases, if the grass or clover does
not come up to the desired standard,
after sufficient time has been allowed
if ploughed up and the land will cui-
tivated, profitable crop of mlllet may
he grown. In this respect alone i,
should be a great boon to our farmers
It may be cut with moving ma
chine. and dried like hay; but as the
ground has been so recently ploughed
It is apt to become very dusty II
handled in this manner. We prefer
to cut it with reaper, laying 1t oil
n lo, ub;ol, If necessary
can be turned by hand and with a
barley or large steel fork, and when
dry enough may be put in cocks or
drawn from the rows to the barn.
A fair average crop of seed is thirty
bushels, but when cut for fodder ana
sown on good land, it should produce
from two or three tons per acre. Some
eminent agricultural! writers claim 1t
it to be equal to good hay. Horses,
cattle and sheep are fond of it, and II
it is properly fed they all do well on
itbutit is avery rich food and should be
fed in small quantities, or mixed with
other hay; this is especially true after
the seed has ripened. When larger
amount is fed at one time, it will be as
injurious as so much unthreshed
wheat. If to be used as hay it should
be cut before the seed is ripe, but not
before the head is we'll formed.
A farmer who has had experience
with millet states his views as follows:
81 want millet cut when heading OF
in blow for horses that are Ted gram
but when used without grain, cut
when in the milk, cure and take to the
stack or barn as soon as possible.
prefer common millet to the other
kinds; the straw is less liable TO De
woody, and it is sweeter and makes a
better quality hay. The great secret
of feeding it, and what will do away
with all bad results, is simply not to
feed too much. Do not carry as large
forkful to horse as you were feed
ing straw or wild hay, especially II
seeded. Some feed a large quantity
and allow the horses to eat the heads
off, and then give full feed Of grain.
The effect is the same as II lot OF
in the sheaf were fed, and then, after
the animal has eaten it, to give full
feed of threshed grain"
If it is used as soiling crop 1t may
be cut during the various stages OF Its
growth Farmers ddrOcate.