The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-04-29
PAMPAs RICE.
BLENDON, April -, 1850

BLENDoN, April "a, 1850.
To the Editor Of The Eagle
was 10 glad to see the article in your last
the Egyptian. or Rice. corn. and | hope the
farmers Of this valley will read it carefully.
have been watching with no little interest
the introduction and Use of this corn, and
had become So thoroughly convinced OF its
worth and successful growth in this country.
that procured some time ago seed sufficient
10 plant sixty acre have already planted
some and will plant more any time during
the next month. To any who desire to try
this new crop will spare them seed.
Respectfully, JNO. KELLY.
In addition to what friend Kelly says, and
to what we have already published from J. Il.
Mead, the last report of our State Board Of
Agriculture says the ..Pampas Rice" ..Egyp-
tian Corn" or "itice Corn" is attracting
WIDE attention, the eastern papers are also
commenting upon the subject. The impor-
lance of this grain, II. the statement made
conce ming il are true, cannot be over esti-
timated. II is said that IL will grow on the
arid plains without irrigation, and that it
thriycs and Aourishes throughout the most
long protracted drou,hs. 1t is thought it
sprang from seed brought to this country by
the Mennonites from Southern Russia. The
kernels grow in tuft like that on the top Of
sorghum. Each one is something smaller and
rounder than grain Of wheat. and is in
closed in ''shuca" or independent capsule.
The berry can be eaten ground into -four or
cracked like wheat, or whole like rice. or
used generally like any other cereal. The
meal resembles that of Indian corn, aud in
color is intermediate between the yellow and
white varieties. A chemical analysis shows
that its percentage of starch. fat. deXtrine,
and sugar, which produce heat and fat in the
animal organization, compares favorably
with that Of Indian corn, wheat. rye. and
oats: and in its contents of Hesh-forming al
ranks with wheat. rye aud oats. The tritius
woody fibre. Is remarkable. The stalk makes
as good fodder as corn does, and few acres
will furnish a family with fuel Cor winter
a consideration of the first Importance in
that nearly treeess country.
Its chief value, however. lies in the fact
that IL has power TO resist drouth. and this
fact is established by the testimonials of
number of practical farmers. The Secretary
OF the State Board publishes extracts from
number of letters from farmers in Barton.
Edwards. Ellis, Ford, kingman, Rocks, Nor
ton and other western countiet in this State,
giving results. all highly satisfactory, of ex-
periments with this grain. One Of his cor
respondents states he planted two or three
grains with a seed-planter. something more
than a foot apart. in turned-cyer sod that had
not been wet with rain for eight months.
There was no rain for i've weeks AFTER plant
ing. yet the corn terminated. After it was
fairly started. the hot blasts from Llano Is
facade blew over il, but il grew right along,
although grass and garden-truck beside il
were fairly burned up. II stood the rains
equally well. and finally it yielded sixty GO
pound bushels TO the acre. Other correspon-
dents assert that IL is not liable to be dam
aged by worms or grasshoppers. Hogs and
other stock like il, aud il fattens them as well
rs Indian corn.