The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-10-01
Hungarian Grass or MiIief.
Country Gentleman


A second crop Of fodder may he oh
tanned upon Il stubble ground, or by
turning soil that is not to be kept In
grass the following year, and sowing
1t with Hungarian grass, under its
various forms and names of Italian
millet, Hungarian millet, German
millet and other local terms. 1t Is one
of the most rapid growing of the all
nual grasses, reaching maturity in a
few weeks after the seed has been
sown, the time depending somewhat
upon the season and the condition OF
the soil. With good supply of mois-
ture and rich and mellow soil, fine
growth of the Hungarian grass will be
ready to cut six weeks after sowing.
Should the hay crop have been short,
it furnishes an excellent substitute for
the best hay. Too much stress can
not be put on the fact that Hungarian
is not crop for poor soil 1t is plant
that must run its course i'm a few
weeks, and should have the most
favorable conditions furnished, so that
ii may grow very rapidly. In many
cases an application of 800 pounds of
guano, or some quick-acting fertilizer,
has made all the difference between Il
paying crop and one that would have
been total loss.
The seed may be safely sown as late
as the middle of July, and in many
cases under favorable circumstances
an excellent crop has been gathered
whom the seed was sown the middle of
September, but il was not best-and
there is seldom any reason for ito
wait until the season is so far advanc-
ed. Three pecks TO one bushel of
clean seed per acre is sufficient, and
may be sown broadcast and slightly
narrowed in upon rich and mellow soil.
If the grass is sown at intervals of a
week or so from the first of June for
six weeks, succession of excel mt,
succulent green fodder may be obtain
ed, and at just the time when pastures
are most frequently short for lack of
rain.
A good deal of fault has been found
with the hay from the Hungarian
grass, but the trouble has come from
too late cutting. The grass should be
cut early while the plants are in flow
err. The seeds are surrounded by short,
sharp bristles or awns, and If the |
grass is left until the grains ripen
these awns become hard, and when |
awns become hard, and when eaten
by animals they are found to irritate
the stomach and intestines, especially |
of horses. All this can be avoided by |
cutting early. AS some may not
know when the plant is in flower, it is
safe to follow the rule OF cutting as soon
as the majority of the heads in the
field have made their appearance.
Aside from the hardening of the awns
by too late growth, the lower portions
of the stems become hard and woody
and therefore less digestible the low
er leaves also fall away, SO that there
is a threefold loss late cutting.
The crop is cured in the same way as
the ordinary meadow grasses, and II
harvested in good shape, it makes
though not as rich food) an excel
lent substitute for meadow hay. 1t
must be kept in mind that 1t Is an an
nual, and the plants live only short |
time. 1t therefore forms no sod, and
the land must be sown 10 something
else as soon rs the Hungarian is re-
moved. Two crops, and of course two
sowings of this grass, have been taken
rom the same oil in one year, but in
most cases its strong point lies In COM
ng after crop OF rye, wheat, etc,
md in that way the soil yield an eX-
IRA, or, as il is sometimes called,
'stolenn crop. As before stated, the
,owings may be in succession to fur
lish q good and continuous supply of
green fodder for soiling purposes or
he whole field may be sown at once,
md the crop cut and cured as sup
element to the meadow hay. What
'ver may be the end, few acres of
hungarian grass, on many farms,
would be an index of n more thought
ul, and, therefore, more profitable
ystem Of farming.