Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-03

stalks, meanwhile. can be fed to the
horses, cows and hogs. They are relished
in the summer and fall as no other fod-
der, and generally it keeps them supplied
until the dry feed of winter is brought
out for feeding.
Kafir Corn.
This plant is a valuable feed, both as
a fodder and as grain, and in regions
where there is a probability of drouth it
may be a surer crop than Indian corn;
but that it possesses such superlative merit
for the eastern region as to justify any
farmer in neglecting his corn to plant
large acres of kaffir corn is more than
doubtful, so we advise our readers to go
SLOW" and if they desire to test the mat
ter for themselves to plant only small
patches at first. Conservative people, and
farmers ought to come under that head,
are apt to look with suspicion on any
thing for which such extravagant claims
of merit have been made, as those
booming kaffir corn have advanced in
it's favor.
The careful and impartial experiments
which are being made at some of the eX-
pertinent stations will result In a proper
valuation of this plant, and will enable
farmers to decide more wisely as to the
advantage it will have over other non
sacharine sorghums, of which it is one,
in their sections.
large yields of kaffir corn on any kind of
soil, without cultivation or rain. 1t does
better on good soil, with proper cultiva-
ton and with sufficient rainfall, just as
would any other crop.
While it is true that under favorable
circumstances kaffir corn has given 100
bushels of grain to the acre, and 1t is
probably true that it will yield better
than Indian corn in some localities, yet
no such yield can be expected as an av-
erage, and in all probability Indian corn,
with favorable seasons, will yield as large
or larger crop of both grain and stover.
The former is more sensitiye to cold than
the latter, SO the time of planting 1t
should be at least one month later than
for Indian corn in the same locality.
The land may be prepared as for Indian
corn, and at the same time, If the weeds
which spring up before planting are de-
stroyed by frequent cultivation, leaving
a clean soil for the kaffir corn seed. The
cultivation required is about that needed
by Indian corn, though the seed is some
times sown broadcast and cut with
mower for hay.
In our opinion there is no substitute FOR
corn as a forage plant.
Sorghum for Forage.
That emiently practical Agricultural,
Waldo F. Brown, writes the following
on sorghum as forage crop
That which l grow for hogs l shall
plant in rows feet apart and the hills 2
feet, and cultivate it, and shall leave
from eight to twelve stalks to the hill.
That.Which l wish to cure for winter feed
/ shall not sow until from June l to 10,
and shall put on five pecks of seed per
acre, drilling it with the wheat drill to in
sure even seeding. We wish it to stand
thick on the ground, SO that the stalks
will be small, as this makes 1t easier 10
cure and easier to handle.
| received letter this fall from farm
Ell living in Indiana, who, after reading
what | said about sorghum for summer
feeding, concluded to try 1t, and SoWed
a bushel of seed on an acre of land. He
wrote as follows: After the dry wealth
er came on and the pastures failed be-
gan feeding from this acre nine 2-year-old
steers and six cows, and fed them 1ull
feed every day for two months. The
steers made good growth, and the cows
maintained good flow of milk" This
was equivalent to feeding one animal
thirty months from an acre, and my own
plat did as well or better
Some have expressed doubts as 10
whether it can be cured and fed in win
ter, but that is what 1t is chiefly grown
for in the west. f. d. Coburn, secretary
of the Kansas state board of agriculture,
has taken great interest in this subject,
and has recently written of the expe-
rience of the Miller brothers, who for
several years have managed large farm
and cattle ranch in Usage county, Kan
sas. They grew the past year $50 acres
of sorghum and are wintering 1900 steers
on it. They have averaged from four to
eight tons per acre, cured, and 1t has
never failed to give good crop, as IL
endures drouth wonderfully. 1t yields
twice as much to the acre as millet, and
Is worth more per ton besides being a
safer food.
/ fully believe that it is the most valu-
able plant known for live stock food, and
that its use will increase until it VIII be
grown as generally as corn is now. l
have never known farmer to give 1t up
after once beginning to grow it.