The Iola register., 1896-03-27

tion of ever farmer. Owing to the
fact that our summers are frequently
too dry to raise corn successfully, the
farmers of Kansas have been compel
led to look for something that, taking
one year with another, will yield
sure and profitable crop of grain and
fodder. 1t has been found that Kaffir
corn fills the requirements, and the
increased acreage planted each year
fully proves that the farmer is aware
of the fact that it is the crop that is
adapted to both our soil and climate.
1t will grow and flourish on poor land
better than any crop known, and has
the power to withstand droughts and
hot winds that no other crop possesses
and being a great yielder of both
grain and fodder, which is relished by
all kinds of stock, makes it profita-
BILE crop to raise.
Our first experience in raising Kaf-
fir corn was in 1894. The year before
we had noticed two small fields grow
ing nicely during the dry weather
a fter the hot winds had parched the
corn the Kaffir corn was still green
and growing. We concluded to give
it a trial. We did not know much
about it and did not like to risk losing
the use of our best land, so we plant
ed it on the poorest part of the field,
after our corn was all planted. Used
a planter that dropped from four to
three feet apart, cultivating the same
as corn. When we threshed. we top
ped two rowe and threshed it to de-
termine the yield. Got six bushels
or three bushels to the row. AS there
was seventeen rows in an acre, il
made yield of 81 bushels per acre.
The corn, on better land yielded 40
bushels, making a difference of eleven
bushels in favor of the Kaffir corn.
AS we had plenty of feed, we topped
the Kaffir corn and let the stocks
stand and pastured them with the
rest of the stocks. The horses and
cattle both seemed to peter the Kaffir
corn stalk. After topping it we fed it
in the head to our horses and they
would leave the ear corn to eat it.
Both horses and hogs thrived and fat
tened on it.
After a years. experience raising
and feeding it, planted larger acre
age last spring, but the ground being
so dry it did not come up we'll. We
topped most of it, as the year before,
and stored it in the hay NOW till
thoroughly dry, and then threshed it,
getting yield of about thirty bushels
The corn yielded the same.
Some of our crop was planted after
wheat was cut. The ground was
plowed, covering the chinch bugs
The bugs got out about the same
time Kaffir corn came up and killed
it. We planted it again. Raised a
fine crop of fodder. 1t being planted
so late the early frost killed it, al
though there was enough seed to
make it rich feed. We ground the
seed and and have been feeding it to
cows, horses and hogs all winter.
The cows gained in their milk as soon
as we commenced feeding them and
our horses and hogs are doing as well
as with anything we ever fed. We
have been feeding the fodder, and it
has kept splendidly, standing out all
winter and is bright and sweet yet.
Hogs like the fodder and will eat it
up clean, stalks and all.
Before planting, your ground
should be well plowed and narrowed
down fine to make firm seed bed to
get q good stand. This is planted, If
for grain, in rows from two and one.
half to three feet apart, dropping the
seed from four to six inches apart, as
it will stand closer planting than
corn. We used drill corn planter
last year. Some people use an ordin-
ary wheat drill, stopping up all the
holes but two or three. If wanted for
hay. from three pecks to one bushels
is sown or drilled. 1t is claimed that
this makes excellent hay and will
yield from two to four tons.
Now, as to the worth of this crop
with corn, the State Ex-
pertinent Station last winter ground
both Kaffir corn and corn and tried it,
feeding it to eight hogs. Four were
fed on corn and four on Kaffir corn.
The corn was ground as fine as desir-
able. but their mill did not grind the
Kaffir corn fine enough. Their re-
ports show that 5.15 pounds of the
Kaffir corn was required to make
pound of pork, and 4.3S pounds of
corn. One bushel of Kaffir corn will
produce 11.65 pounds of pork; one
bushel of corn 1878. Figuring pork