The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-05
Kansas Rice Corn.

The dry season of 1878, while ii cut
down the product OF many farmer
i'm Western Kansas far below his eX.
pectations, has not been without Its
profitable lessons, it has been n yeal
of interesting developments, and the
farmers of Southwestern Kansas have
learned that it will not do to depend
entirely on one crop, especially when
their soil and climate is adapted to a
great variety. Among the most val
liable discoveries this season Is the
success that has attended the cultlva-
tion of the Egyptian or Kansas Rice
Conn., and its adaptability to all sea-
sons, whether wet or dry. This is,
so far as we can learn, a new crop in
the United States, and the seed is sup
posed to have been obtained from the
display made by the Egyptian gov
eminent at the Centennial EXPOSE
ton, 1t is Familiarity known as Kan
sas Rice Corn, from the resemblance
of the grain to rice, and because Kap-
sas was the first to discover its value
While growing it can scarcely be dls,-
tinguished from sorghum. Inc seed
forms in about the same manner on
the TOP of the stalk, only in heavier
bunch, and instead of standing erece,
like that of sorghum, it curves over
and hangs like cluster of grapes. III
belongs to the sugar cane family, ana
its cultivation is about the same as
that required for sorghum or broom
corn. One bushel of grain will seed
twenty acres of ground. 1t can be
planted with a wheat drill. In har-
vesting the heads only are gathered
Any good threshing machine VIII sep
arate 1000 bushels per day. Inc
grain weighs sixty pounds TO me
bushel, or the same as wheat. Inc
Weld in 1878 was 60 to 10 bushels per
acre. In the dry season OF 1879, 4o
bushels. =,
No analyst. has yet been made of
this grain, but two years trial gwen
it bv some of the best farmers OF Paw
nee county has satisfied them that
for either horses, cattle, hogs or sheep
it is superior to Indian corn; and
stock themselves give it the prefer
ence when spread before them. When
ground into meal, it is about equal to
one-third of flour and two-thirds of
corn meal mixed.
The value of the new crop to the
farmers of Southwest Kansas can
hardly be estimated when taken Ill
connection with the superior adVan-
tages of the fine climate, short dry
winters and good grazing afforded for
stock raising. Up to this time, West
ern Kansas has had decided advan-
tage over Eastern Kansas as a grazing
country, on account of its buffalo grass
and better climate. On the other
hand Eastern Kansas has had the adj
vantage in winter feeding, to turning
off stock for beef on account of the
cheaper corn, ; but the cheapness with
which Kansas Rice Corn is now raised
in the western counties, place them
on equality with the eastern counties
for fattening stock, while its superior
advantage for grazing still remains.
Buffalo grass and Rice Corn, in a
latitude and and climate like that OF
Southwest Kansas, will produce beef,
mutton or wool at Il cost that almost
defies competition.
Every man who thinks of locating
in these southwest counties should
come prepared to invest i'll small
herd of cattle or flock of sheep. These
well cared for will soon make him an
independent farmer, and he will have
a crop that in the West has never yet
failed. The dryer the season the bet
ter the Buffalo grass, and the better
the growth of cattle and sheep.