JAPANESE MILLET.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 547, 5 March 1913, Page 3

JAPANESE MILLET.

COMPARED WITH MAIZE.

Upon ths comparative advantages of Japanese millet and maize as a foddei for cows an enquirer is informed that, alike in protein, carbohydrates, and fat,, the millet analysis is the better. Pound for pound, Japanese millet contains more nutriment than green maize fodder. Cattle are fond of it as a cutting crop, and it makes good ensilage. It is not a good hay crop because of the difficulty of cur> ing. Japanese millet does not yield as heavily as maize—that is, it would not make as much ensilage per acre as maize. For instance, on one farm where a good deal of maize ensilage is grown,-the Japanese millet make about twelve tons of ensilage to the acre, while maize makes twenty tons. But the Japanese millet has the advantage that it may be planted later in the summer. Of course, when planted late it does not mature completely, but it makes excellent fodder for cutting green late in the autumn. If well manured and cut at an early stags two or three cuttings may be had in a year. It is a plant which . responds readily to manure, and does not do very well on thin, worn soil.