The Hungarian millet, or Mohar, is a small headed millet, with large seeds, which vary in color from yellowish to purple brown. In typical Hunga rian millet there appears to be a large percentage of dark seed. The heads have dark brown or purple beards. This is the common foxtail millet of central and south eastern Europe and is often called there German millet, but it is not theGerman millet of this country. This variety is very persistent after being once seeded, and in careless farming may become a weed. It is fairly drought-resistant, although as a result of many trials it does not appear to he so good in that respect as the common millet.
The Early Harvest millet is of the common millet type. The New Siberian and the Korean millets are not yet sufficiently studied, but may be distinct varieties.
Barnyard millets. (Fig. 699.) The barnyard millets are so called because of their develop meat from the wild spec ies, Pani cum Crus-galli,which is known in this country as barnyard grass, and is common throughout the country (Fig. 525). The native grass is a coarse plant, with thick spreading stems and broad leaves, but is exceedingly variable in all characters. The heads vary in color from green tively easy matter.
In the United States the barn yard millets are used exclusively for forage, but in India the grain is commonly used as food for the people. In that country the varieties of two other closely allied species, Panicum colonum and Panicum frumentaceum, known as Shama and Samwa millets, are extensively grown for the grain, the latter species being the more important.
Press millets. (Figs. 700, 701.) These millets grow one and one-half to three and one-half feet high, or about the height of other millets, and bear a large open head or panicle. The resemblance of this panicle to that of broom-corn has suggested the name broom-corn millets. In Russia, where this group of millets is given a promi nent place in agriculture and where many distinct varieties have been developed, they are known by the collective name "proso," a good name that should be used in this country to distinguish this group readily from other millets. Indeed, this name is already fairly well known, having come into use along with the introduction recently of a number of good varieties from Russia.
There are three fairly distinct forms of the species Panicum mil iaceum based on differences in the shape of the panicle, and, in accord ance with these, the cultivated va rieties of this group may be divided into three sub-groups : (1) the pani cle prosos, having a very open, erect panicle ; (2) the clump forms, having a panicle shaped particularly like that of broom-corn, and drooping; and (3) the com pact prosos, having the panicle compacted almost into the form of an actual head, similar to that of kafir. Each of these sub-groups is made up of a
number of varieties, differing in the color of the plant, shape and hairiness of the leaves, color of seed and other features. Within each sub-group more importance is usually given to the color of the seed, but even this character varies considerably in the same variety. The seed is always considerably larger than in any other millets. The colors of seed generally recognized are white, yellow, red, brown, gray, and black.
There is much variation in different varie ties, also in the height of the plant, the time of maturity, and drought-resistance. The best varieties with respect to the last two qualities have been introduced only recently from Rus sia. Until recent years little attention or study has been given to this group of millets in this country, and naturally no distinction of varieties has been recognized. The princi pal definitely-named varieties at present known to us are the Early Fortune, Mani toba, Black Voronezh, Red Voronezh, Red Rus sian, Tambov, Red Lump and Red Orenburg. Even some of these are very similar to each other, and may be identical. All but the first two have been imported from Russia since 1897. Several so-called varieties making up our stock known previous to this period, and imported largely from Germany, Austria-Hun gary, China and Japan, may be distinct, but have not yet been thoroughly studied.
During the last six years there has been a great revival in the cultivation of these mil lets in this country, largely through the influ ence of the introduction of new and better varieties by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Pearl millet. (Fig. 702.) In addition to the above-described groups, which alone may be considered as the true millets, another grass, of the species Pennisetum spicatum, known best as pearl millet, has lately attracted much attention and should be mentioned here. Various other names have been applied to this plant, such as penicillaria, cat-tail millet, Egyptian millet, and Mand's Wonder Forage I'lant. It is an erect, succulent annual, growing to the height of six to fifteen feet, and bears its seeds in a compact, slen der, cylindrical "head" or spike, six to fourteen inches long. There is at present much difference of opinion as to the usefulness and, therefore, the importance of this plant. It is certain that it yields an enormous amount of forage per acre, and may be cut two or three times during the season, on an average. It is very succulent when young, but rapidly becomes woody at time of heading, and, therefore, should be cut early for hay. On the other hand, because of its succulence it is difficult to cure for this use. It is apparently most useful for pasturing or soiling, and for the latter purpose should be cut very young.