The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-02-26
MORE ABOUT KAFFIR CORN.
SUCCESSFUL TRIAL OF THE NEW
CEREAL IN SOUTH DAKOTA

CEREAL IN SOUTH DAkOIA.
A detailed account Of the famous KAT
fir corn in an article from Guthrie, Okla,
and first printed a few weeks ago in the
columns of the Globe-Democrat, has been
widely copied by newspapers of the North
west, and has aroused much discussion
among the farmers Of South Dakota as
to the adaptability of Kaffir corn to this
climate. 1t developes that last year and
prior few farmers in this state procured
small quantities of seed and experimental
with it, and the result of these expert
ments, as drawn out by the present dis
cussion, are interesting. T. B. Strong, a
farmer and ranchman on White River, in
the coded Sioux lands west of this city,
had field Of corn which yielded fully up
to expectations. He declares that it is
the very best kind of feed for any kind Of
stock. P. J. Germ, Chamberlain bust
ness man, experimental last season with
a small field of ordinary Indian corn and
Kaff1r corn. The ordinary corn was irri-
gated several times, while the Kaffir corn
received only the natural rainfall, which
was much below normal. Still the Kaffir
corn grew as fast as the other, was green
and healthy-loOking during the very dry
est periods of the summer, proving, in this
instance at least, that it can withstand
drOuth to the degree claimed for it. ain
referring to newspaper statement warm
ing farmers to go slow in going into the
culture of Kaffir corn, F. D. Hyer a prom
lnent farmer of Hanson county, says that
three years ago he risked a dime for seed
This year he has ten bushels of seed, and
next spring will put in all he can cultivate.
He declares that he finds nothing that
stands the dry, hot winds, and always
keeps growing like it. His experience
shows that Kaffir corn, in this region.
should be put into the ground as early as
other corn, and the more it is cultivated
the better; that it can be cut for feed
three times in early summer. A number
of families living at Eureka, in the ex-
IRENE northern part of the state, have
raised small quantities of the corn, and
have been trying meal made from the
grains. Those who have used the new
meal pronounce it far superior to either
corn or buckwheat for cakes or bread A
larger quantity of the Kaffir corn will be
planted in that vicinity this spring. as
we'll as in other parts of the state Sew
el'ai ranchmsn near Rapid City, on the
eastern slope of the Black Hills, propose
giving 1t a trial the coming season. They
argue that If the corn makes good feed for
hogs 1t would be worth raising for there
are many small farms and ranches in
that section on which a few hogs might
be kept with little trouble and much profit
II crop OF something for feed was sure
of being raised. While there seems to be
good deal to be said in favor of the new
corn. there are. of course, two sides to the
question as applied to region so far north
as South Dakota. A resident Of Water
town, who spent fifteen years in South
Africa. the region from which the corn was
brought to this country. saw the corn
grow there time and again, and expressed
the opinion that it will not prove a sue
cess in this climate. He has never wit
messed any experiments with it here. how
ever. therefore his opinion is wholly super
fetal. but adds that he does know that
even in the warm climate of Africa, where
the growing season is longer than it is
here, the kaffir corn crop was a failure
three or four seasons during the fifteen
years of his residence, because there was
not sufficient time for it to mature. His
Judgment is that the corn is much more
tender than our American corn, and not
able to stand the frost SO well, although
this theory has been pretty we'll exploded
by experience. However, the experiments
with the corn throughout South Dakota
the coming season will be conducted with
more care, and results will be watched
more closely than former experiments
The results are expected to demonstrate to
certainty whether or not the corn is
suited to this climate