The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-12-06
ES Of RHFIR CORR.
ssusA African Kaizs Crews Luxurisntiy IN
Spite Of DrOnth.
'Esss' OF the Cereal IN ths ssmi-krid Belt
Remarkably Prolific and Valuable
as Food for Humans and
Animals.

sfeop - oCAsUA az A1lobg SAelp jug ntOJ.
possible failure Of the wheat crop, and
consequent demand Of cash for -four to
feed the family, that has SO long haunt
ed the waking hours and disturbed the
sleep of the struggling western farmer,
is dispeiled like the mists before the
south wind that blows across the prai-
ries, and the great west halls deliver
81, coming, like London's fabulous Bar
nato, from the unknown realms OF
South Africa.
Ksflr corn, first introduced on the
American continent from the Kaf1r
country, in Africa, less than a decade
since, is still an unknown product to
nine-tenths 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 condi-
tons, and experiment developed the
fact that it would mature crop in the
dryest and hottest seasons on the high
western plains.
A more extended planting of the new
grain and a comparison Of results OBJ
tanned soon developed the fact that
whether the season was wet or dry, hot
or cold, long or short, this new product
would thrive on all kinds of soil with
the minimum of care and cultivation,
and planted any time between the first
Of April and the middle Of July it
would mature an absolutely sure crop
Of grain and fodder before the frosts Of
autumn.
1t will grow luxuriantly on the sod Of
newly broken ground, produce fine
crops on either bottom or upland, is a
natural enemy of weeds, and will be as
clean with two civilizations as Indian
corn viii be with four times as many.
1t is rather slow in terminating and
getting start of growth, but it is cor
respondingly sure, not requiring rains
TO sprout it, and when once we'll under
way it grows right straight along
cloudy weather or bright, drouth or
rain, hot winds or northers, all being
the same to it, and seemingly of equal
benefit to its growth.
The stalk looks somewhat like a
single shoot of common corn, but short
OF, attaining height usually of from
four and one-half to six feet, and hsv
ing pointed leaves of a rich green color.
The grain forms in the head at the ex-
treme point of the shoot, where the tas-
sci is on ordinary corn, the heads being
from seven to twelve inches in length
and from six to eight in circumference
and when ripe look like great white or
red plumes standing proudly erect.
The grains are almost round, little
larger than 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 remarkably with
ancient descriptions of the mamma sent
the children of Israel during their
wanderings in the desert. and, coming
as it does to the people of the western
plains where wheat and all else is oc-
Cssionally so effected by the drouth, it
seems like another supply of mama
sent by the God of Israel,
Though raised as an experiment here
and there through the vest for several
years it was not until the present year
that it became a prominent crop. When
the drOuth of last spring killed the
wheat and oats and seemed almost GER
tain to ruin the corn, the few who had
had experience with the new grain be-
gan TO advise their neighbors to plant
kaf8r corn as it would grow ali 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 throughout the west
vas planting kafflr corn, utilizing the
ground where wheat and oats had failed
or planting on sod OF scattered patches
where his early corn had been burned
ont.
The planting was continued until
veil along in August, the acreage being
In many sections greater than that ever
devoted to q single crop. In Oklahoma
alone nearly $1,000 acres we're planted
with the new crop. And every grain of
It planted grew and thrived to mstur-
ity, 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 was yet
50 new that it was not recognized in
the outside markets.
Experience had already developed
the fact that it made a most admirable
iced, either to winter stock or fatten
them for market, but with an abund-
aacs Of. the grain on hand, Oklahoma
farmers soon discovered that it was
better for horses than either corn or
oats, making them fat and stout and
giving them Sleek glossy appearance.
Both horses and cattle not only like
and thrive on the grain, but do as veil
On the fodder as On the bsst Of hay.
and viii eat up the entire stalk, even
altar It is quite dry, and COWS produce
richer milk and mere of it than were
led on hay and bran.
Fher it came to feeding hogs it was