The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-03-12
RED KAFFlR CORN.

The Most Valuable Nonsaocharlne Sor-
ghum For Poor, Dry Soils-Cuitural Notes
Kaffir corn, one Of the many nonsac.
Charine sorghums, is att, acting atten.
tion in many widely separated parts Of
the country, and notably those sections
where drought is liable to prevail Fol.
lowing are extracts Of interest on this
subject from an article on sorghums by
+. b. Burtis and published in Kansas
state board of agriculture report:
White Kaffir corn is one of the early
introduced varieties Of the nonsaccha-
rine sorts. The plant grows short and
stalky, and has short joints covered
with large and numerous leaves. At
maturity the stalks are quite dry and
pithy. The seed tops grow erect, are
long and slender and bear white seed
If dry weather checks this variety, the
seed tops do not push ont of the sheath
and the lower part molds and the grain
isworthlcss. Under ordinary conditions
this variety yields from 40 TO 90 bush
els of grain per acre and a fair yield of
fodder, bat the stalks arc mostly re-
fused by stock.
Red Katiir was introduced at the Kan
sas station in 1889. 1t differs from the
white fodder in that it grows taller
and more slender and is much more
juicy and sweeter The seed differs in
color and is somewhat smaller and
harder. At the station it outyields the
white in grain and fodder, and natures
somewhat earlier, and we consider it
superior in all respects. OF all varieties
red Kaffir corn is the most valuable for
farmers i'll general. 1t combines large
yield Of fodder with the largest yield of
grain, and is Of a growth suitable to
economical harvesting. Stock eat the
fodder with a relish, and the feeding
value of the grain is excelled by none
1t stands dry weather as well, and does
better on poor soil than any other. But
it will respond we'll to good soil and
plenty of moisture After variety has
been selected an important point is to
keep it pure, which will take some care
If several kinds are raised in the same
field.
Sorghum requires warm weather to
develop it. The mistake is often made
of planting it too early. Before or not
later than corn was the practice few
years ago. Generally the result of this
was very poor stand. The seed
should never be planted until the
ground is thoroughly warm. Shallow
planting will help the termination
much; half as deep as for corn is a good
depth. The early growth is very slow
and the plants tender; hence the neces-
sity of having the ground free from
weeds at time Of planting.
A great advantage of the sorghums
over corn for forage is that they admit
of close planting. Sorghums will admit
of close drilling and produce full
grain crop, and, with thick seeding,
will make excellent hay. AS hay crop
a yield of two to four tons per acre is
not unusual. For this the quantity of
seed sown per acre should be varied
to suit the conditions, but in
most cases if broadcasted one bushel
Will be sufficient, and if drilled three
pecks. Put on enough seed to make the |
plants small and fine; the yield will be |
about as much ard can be handled |
much easier and better. The best plan
Is to plant thick enough to make good,
fine hay without any thought of the
grain.
II grain is wanted, drill the rows far |
enough apart to admit of cultivation,
so as to produce the largest yield of
grain. AT the experiment station we
ind to give the maximum yield of
grain the rows should not be farther
apart than 3 feet and may be as close
IS 2 & and the stalks should be from to
inches apart in the row. The above
applies to such variety as red Kaffir
'orn, as in rich soil some of the ranker
growing sorts will lodge when planted
10 close.