Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/573

 MILLER MILLET 555 Edwards " in Sparks's " American Biography, 1 ' and published numerous pamphlets. MILLER, Thomas, an English author, born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Aug. 31, 1807, died in London, Oct. 25, 1874. He was at first a farmer's boy, devoted his leisure hours to study, and while following the trade of a basket maker began to attract attention by his verses and occasional pieces in prose, chiefly describing rural life and scenery. He came under the notice of Moore, Campbell, and Ro- gers, and the last named enabled him to set up as a bookseller, and thenceforth he be- came an industrious writer. Among his nu- merous novels are "Eoyston Gower" (1838), "Fair Rosamond " (1839), " Lady Jane Grey" (1840), "Gideon Giles the Roper" (1841), and " Godfrey Malvern " (1842). The most popu- lar of his writings are his country books, in- cluding " A Day in the Woods," " Beauties of the Country," " Rural Sketches," "Pictures of Country Life," " Country Scenes," &c. He also wrote a " History of the Anglo-Saxons," and lives of Turner, Beattie, and Collins. His poetical works are : " Common Wayside Flow- ers" (1841) "Poetical Language of Flowers" (1847); "Original Poems for my Children" (1850); and "Songs for British Riflemen" (I860). MILLER, William, an American religionist, born in Pittsfield, Mass., in 1781, died in Low Hampton, Washington co., N. Y., Dec. 20, 1849. In the war of 1812 he was captain of a company organized to protect the northern frontier. He was a farmer, whose early facili- ties for education were slight, and he seems never to have been master of what are usually deemed the requisite resources for Biblical criticism ; but in 1833 he began to lecture on the speedy second coming of Christ, announc- ing, in accordance with his interpretation of the prophecies, that the earth was to be de- stroyed in 1843. Even the day was specified, if not by himself, by some of his principal fol- lowers. His earnest and confident manner at- tracted attention, his Scriptural and historical arguments seemed to many erudite and cogent, and after a few years of constant travel and preaching his disciples were reckoned at from 30,000 to 50,000. (See SECOND ADVENTISTS.) MILLER, William Allen, an English chemist, born in Ipswich, Dec. 17, 1817, died in Liver- pool, Sept. 30, 1870. At 15 years of age he was apprenticed to his uncle, who was surgeon to the general hospital in Birmingham. At the expiration of five years he entered the medical department of King's college, London, where he studied chemistry under Dr. Daniell, whom he assisted in his laboratory. In 1840 he passed some time in the laboratory of Liebig in Giessen, became demonstrator of chemistry in King's college, and in 1845 professor of chem- istry. With Dr. Daniell he had investigated the electrolysis of salts, conducting all the ex- periments. In 1851 he was appointed a com- missioner on the water supply of London, and an assayer of the mint. He was the author of an important treatise entitled " Elements of Chemistry, Theoretical and Practical" (London, 1869), and of numerous scientific papers. MILLET, a name given to grasses of sev- eral distinct species and genera ; it is from the Italian miglietto, diminutive of miglio, from the Latin milium, which in turn is supposed to be from mille, a thousand, in reference to its fertility. The present botanical genus mil- ium does not include either of the plants known to agriculture as millet, but is a small genus in the tribe of paniceon, the principal species in which, M. effusum, is very widely diffused ; this, which is known as millet grass and spreading millet, grows all over Europe and northern Asia, extending from the Medi- terranean to the Arctic circle, and in this coun- try from New England to Illinois and north- ward ; it is generally found in cool and damp woods. It is a slender grass, sometimes 4 or 6 ft. high, with broad, flat, thin leaves and a spreading panicle ; the spikelets, by the suppres- sion of one of the glumes, appear as if one- flowered. This grass is not regarded as of any agricultural value, but in England its growth is encouraged in woods on account of the great fondness of pheasants for its abundant seeds. What is known as the double-seeded of dou- ble-bearing millet grass was formerly placed in this genus, but is now called amphicarpum, a name given upon the supposition that it was doubly fruit-bearing ; it has panicles like other grasses, but the spike- lets (or flowers), though perfect, drop without maturing seeds; at the base of the plant anoth- er set of flowers is pro- duced ; these are solita- ry at the end of slender runner-like stalks, and are fertilized and per- fect their fruit whol- ly underground. This plant is found abun- dantly in New Jersey, and since the cranberry has been so largely cultivated in that state it has attracted much attention, and was at one time regarded as a dangerous enemy to the cul- ture ; after the bogs have been prepared and planted with cranberries, this double-seeded millet grass makes its appearance in the greatest profusion, and apparently threatens destruction to the plants ; but it is found that it does no great injury, and that the cranberry plants soon take possession of the soil to the exclu- sion of the grass. This species is A. Purshii, and extends southward to Georgia. Another and much more rigid species is A. Floridanum, very local in Florida. The true millet of an- Millet (Panicum miliaceum).