Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-09-21
THE GROWING OF MlLLET.

Tho various varieties of milletS are
row being grown to considerable eN-
tent in many sections OF the country
They offcr the farmer certain Ivan
lrages Which cannot be gained from
5theI crops. As a summer catch
crop for the production of hay, milct
is admirably adapted jc conditions IN
this section. II also offers adyanragt
in the way of furnishing a covCling
for the ground Turing summer, and IT
the same time may yield the grower
profitable returns as hay Oh SCI
crop, says the farmers Guide. There
are three distinct groups of miles
which aIC now grown ig a..
The commonest aud perhaps the most
important of these groups is known BIZ
the general term of foXtail millets, AL
includes the common millet, Hungarian
millet and German millet, the ether
groups comprise the bloWn-c0rn mil
lets and those known as Japanese mil
lets, and while not at present so wide
ly lSrCwn as the former they are daily.
coming into more general favor, esre-
cially where the growing seasons ave
snort and greater dlouth-rasisting
ICualitieS are desired.
Under ordinary conditions. however.
one Of the foXtail varieties, we believe,
will give fully as good, if not better.
results than either the broom-corn or
Japanese varieties. Personally we pre-.
fer either the common or Hungarian
varieties. We have had the best sue
cess with these when grown for a hay
crop In case a seed crop is desired
We cannot state which kind is tn
| bes,, as We have never lad any OK
perience with millet for this purpose,
! but we can see no reason why results
! in seed production should be very diff
ferent from that of hay. Either yarie-
! ty will produce "a heavy crop of hay
under favorable soil and climate con-
ditiCns. The Hungarian variety is
usually thought 10 give slightly the
largest yields of hay, but there is lit
tie difference experienced in Yell Of
! seed These were the first varieties
of millet to be introduced into this
country, and wAelo this class of grass
is wanted one can make no mistake in
selecting either of them.
The seeding of miilet may take place
any time after the Srounl becomes
Thoroughly warmed. It usually re
quiies about 100 days for millets to-
mature seed in this latitude OF
course, the exact time Of sowing may
be governed by the use to which the
crop Il to be put. If a seed crop is
sought the last of May or the very
first of June should be tie time; if hay
or soiling is the object few weeks
may do us we'll AS with other crops
the preparation of the soil SHOULD be
us thorough as possible. That is, the
seed needs 70 be OF a fine tiith-
but not firmly compacted, as loose
ard porous soil is much the best.
Millets like best a soil of medium
loan, neither too clayey nor too
sandy, and possessed Of fair fertility
The plants are surface feeders, and
tle more plant food found in the sur
face soil the better for the crop.
The amount of seed to SOW an acre
Deepen Is somewhat upon bCth The man
ner of seeding and the use to which
the crop is to be put. When grown
for hay it may either be sown bread
cast or drilled, and a half-busnel or
trifle less seed will be required. If
seed alop is the object, about nalf as
much seed is used, or if drilled in
rows which admit cultivation, as Is
practiced in some sections, even less
amount of seel is needed Seed from
rather thin seedlings is usually plumper
ard of better appearance than seed
from more thickly aowed tieids. For
hay millet should be cut before tnlll
natured, as the quality is tirmer ami
more relished by stock. 1t can be cut
any time after blooming, but 1t is best
to wait until the heads are faily wei
advanced. For seei the crop IS har-
vested when in the dough stage.