The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1895-12-20
WONDERFUL CORN
The South African Maize is Highly Re-
commended for the Northwestern
Climate as a Good Cereal.
Will Thrive in the ROttsSt Weather and
Requires but very Little Moisture to
Mature the Seed.
\ SOCIABLE EVENING
nr. and Mrs S. 7. Greene Entertained a
Number Of Their Friends at Home
Last Thursday EeVsning.
ABOUT KAFFIR CORN.
south African Maze Grows Luxurtantly
in Spite Of Drouth.

south African Ma;zo Grows Luxurtantly
in Spite of Drou,h.
Quite number Of farmers in this
county have made inquiries concerning
the new kattir corn and coming across
The following in the ST. Louis Globle-
Democrat from Guthrie, Oklahoma,
we publish it for what good it will ac-
complish:
katfr corn, first introduced on the
American continent from the kat1ir
country, in Africa, less than decade
since, Is still an unknown product to
nine-ten,hs Of the people Of the United
States.
At first planted here and there as a
curiosity, it was found to grow readily
in all localities and under all conditions
and experiment developed the fact that
it would mature crop in the driest
and hottest seasons on the high West
ern plains. A more extended planting
of the new grain, and q comparison OF
the results obtained, soon developed
the fact that whether the season was
wet or dry, cool or hot, long or short,
this new product would thrive on all
kinds of soil with minimum care and
cultivation, and planted any time be.
tween the lst of April and the middle
of July. it would mature an absolutely
sure crop grain and fodder before the
frOsts OF the autumn.
1t will grow luXuriantly on the sod
OF newly broken ground, produce fine
crops either on bottom or upland. is a
natural enemy Of weeds, and will be as
ntn wi -
corn will be with four times as many.
1t is rather slow in terminating and
getting start of growth, but is cor
respondingly sure. not requiring rains
to sprout it, and when once well under
way itgrows ight ghtalong cloudy
weather or bright, drouth or rain, hot
70 1t, and seemingly Of equal benefit to
its growth.
The stalks look somewhat like a
single shoot of common corn, but
shorter. attaining height usually of
from + to feet, and having pointed
leaves OF rich green color. The grain
forms in head at the extreme point
of the shoot, where the tassel is on
ordinary corn, the head being from
seven to twelve inches in length and
six to eight in circumference, and
ripe look like great white or red
plumes, standing proudly erect.
The grains are almost round. a little
larger than grain of rice and much
resembles grain of wheat in interior
structure.
There are Two varieties, red and
white, the latter being the favorite
crop, and the grains taken separately
compare in appearance most remark
ably with ancient descriptions of the
mama ST Mt the children of Israel dur
Ing their Wanderings in the desert. and
coming ss it did to the people of the
Western plains this year when wheat
and all else was so greatly affected by
the drought, it seemed like another
supply OF mama sent by the God OF
israel.
Though raised as an experiment here
and there throughout the West for
several years, it was not until the pres
ent year that it became promine at
crop. When the drouth of last spring
killed the wheat and oats and seemed
almost certain ruin to corn, the few
who had had experience with the new
grain began to advise their neigh bors
to plant katlir corn, as it would grow
all right in dry weather, and they
could thus, at least, raise feed for their
stock The newspapers took up the
advice and soon every farmer through
out the West was planting Kaf1ir corn,
utilizing the ground where his wheat
and oats had failed or planting on sod
or scatterd patches where his early
corn had beed burned out.
The planting continued until well
along in August, the acreage being in
many sections greater than that ever
devoted to a single crop. In Okla
homa alone nearly 10000 acres We're
planted with the new crop. And every
grain Of it planted grew and thrived to
maturity. and before the summer was
over the farmers began to wonder what
they would do with it all. They knew
it was good feed for stock, but there
was not stock enough in the territory
to begin to consume it, and the product