The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-02-19
A NEW CEREAL.

A NEW CEREAL.
Whatever promotes the material pros
perity Of Kansas, is, Of course, always
of intcrcs TO the citizens Of our county,
and therefore we reproduce the follow
ing, which is portion of a letter from
the Topeka correspondent of the Cnica-
go Times. Some inquiries have assured
us that many reputable farmers in the
western countics-wherct the exception
al dry weather Of the past season almost
destroyed the crop Of Indian corn
have great faith in this new grain, aud
intend TO raise large areas this year. At
all events there seems good reason to
believe that there is an excellent addi-
ton 10 the food products of Western
Kansas.
"There is no more marked character
istic of the American people than the
constant desire to invent something
new, or to discover something that will
take the place Of what heretofore was
supposed to be the only thing possible
sor any gis en- purpose. As an iliustra-
ton of this, it may be stated that few
years ago, when cotton was at an ex-
trcmcly high price, wrapping Irvine,
which had before been made OF cotton,
was made from paper, rs was as good
for most purposes as that made Of the
old material. And SO of hundreds OF
other things that the exigences of that
time brought forth. This desire to in-
vent or discover still governs, and in
this State has resulted ia finding grain
that, it is hoped may prove Of inestima-
BILE value to the farmers Of the Great
West. The season of 1879 was in the
western part Of the STATE an exception
ally dry one, and many farmers learned
. lesson which had been repeated 10
them many tisaes by the experienced
crop raisers but which they tailed 10
comprehend, that mixed farming is the
only sale way or, in other words, that
1t will not do to depend On any one crop
to raise, yet that here com is king. Blu,
M the regions OF Western Kansas, where
there is liable to be lack OF rain fall in
any given season, sud where corn es-
pecially must have plenty of moisture
70 produce crop in paying quantities,
II grain that will not merely be sue
ccdanculh, but VIII absolutely take the
place OF corn, has been eAposismap,eg
with during the past three seasons, aud
Al is believed to DC demonstrated with
oIt . henbt that it w.ll add very much
to the value or ~cstagp lands. The
grain is called here Egyptian or corn
rice, and So Tar US known has not been
cultivated in amy other part OF the Uni
scd States. The seed was obtained
from the display made by the Egyptian
government, at the Cenieanlpl txpOsi.
ton. The name is derived from the re-
seinblance of the grain 10 rice, and 50
far rs il has been experimental with
has proved u success, both IN wet and
dry seasons. While growing This crop
can hardly be distipg uished iiom sur
ghum the seed forms at the top OF the
s.alk in large punches, aud, as it ripens
and gets heavier, bends over and hangs
down, not unlike u cluster Of grapes. II
belongs to the sugar cane family, and
Is cultivated in the same manner, aud
US easily as sorghum Or broom corn.
One bushei Of the seed is sufficient for
i've acres, and il has been put in here
with wheat drill. In harvesting only
the heads are gathered, and good |
threshing machine will ciean ready for
market two thousand bushels a day.
The specimens raised this year yield |
sixty pounds per bushel. The yield per
acre in 1873 was from sixty to seventy
i've bushels. THIS season, which as said
,beve has been very dry one, the yield
was forty to forty-fivc bushels per acre.
No scientific analysis of this grain has
ls yet been made; indeed it is scarcely
InOwu except in two or three counties
q Western Kansas, where il has been
crown by several farmers who desired
Q find some grain that would do in the
,lace Of corn AS food for stock. The
rial by these men has satisfied them
hat for horses, cattle, sheep or swine il
& superior to maize, and farm animals
o which il is fed give il the preference
o corn, when both are laid before them
When ground into meal the rice corn is
rheat -four and two.thirds corn meal.
he value of this new grain TO the peo-
lie Of Western Kansas can hardly be
when considered sure yield
4 amy season, and il viii enable the
lock-raiser to fattcn his herds ut home
,s;ead Of shipping them East, us has
eretoforc been mostly the custom tor
liteniug. The vast plains in he West
RI portion of this State, SO celebrated
) grazing grounds by reason Of the
uifalo grass with which they are cover
4, aud its excellent climate, will be
oubly valuable, If further experiments
,nfirm the value Of this hitherto un-
nown grain. And will add another
gumcnt in favor Of mixed farming as .
.xinst that class who believe in the ag-
cslturist making speciality Of one =,
rauch. II those who shall come TO "
-cstcrn ksnsas in the future will be n
'cparcd to commence with few sheep :. |.
cattle, or both in addition to the or =
nary crop-raising, they will ind . Il
much sooner than By trying se
70 branch alone. With this new grain, -
HIGH produces good crops in any seas ~
!, making It so valuable whom too dry n
rsiee corn probably, the farmer =
- Of - abusdsnce Of food to prepare