The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-01-31

had some ground. He is Of the
opinion that the meal is as good, if
not superior, to Indian corn meal.
G. P. Avery. of the Gaiswold Seed
Company, raised IL acres of Kaffir
corn last season, He planted the
three kinds, which yielded from As
to 20 bushels to the acre. He
said:
"We purchased the seed in Mex
leo several years ago, and first OK
perimented with it in Texas, near
Austin. II is necessary for the
seed to become gradually acclimat.
ed, and in fact, this is true of all
tropical seeds. Two years alter the
harvesting of the Texas crop we
brought seed to Nebraska and
| planted it, | believe it to be %
| per cent better for fodder than any
other cereal raised for that purpose,
1t will grow we'll and mature when
all other crops fail. 1t differs from
Indian corn in this respect, drought
does not stunt or dwarf its growth.
For instance, Indian corn, when
struck by drought, will go right on
and head out into stunted, pre-
cocious maturity that renders it
worthless. Not so with Kafiir corn.
When the dry weather scorches up
everything else Kalfir corn simply
stops growing. At the first rain
fall it starts up again where it left
off, and though later in arriving at
maturity, 1t is fully as rank and
ripe as though it had been favored
with regular showers. At present
there is no market price Of Kaffir
corn. We shall put the seed on
the market next spring at 81 35 a
bushel. In an ordinary Nebraska
season it will mature in the time
between the middle of June and
the Goth Of September"
From what could be learned in
regard to Kaffir corn the following
conclusions were reached: Pro-
tracted droughts have but little ef-
feet upon it acreage product, save
in lengthening the time to matur-
ity, 1t will average, as a certainty,
from 40 to rs bushels an acre. It
has now no market value, being on
the experimental stage, 1t will
certainly grow we'll and yield when
all other cereals fail. 1t natures
within less than four months. 1t
belongs to the cane, or broom corn
family, but does rot grow to a
height Of over four or five feet. The
stalks contains a very large pre-
centage of saccharine, If sowed
broadcast field of Kaffir corn re-
sembles a field of exceedingly rank
millet The seed plume, or ear, is
about u inches in length, The
berry, or kernel, is about the size
of plump barley, and nearly round.
It is we'll adopted to soils of the
poorer quality.
! A letter from Wichita, Kansas,
says:
! J. B. Beadles, of Noble county,
IOkla., is the Kaffir King Of Amer
lea at present, but it is doubtful
whether we can keep that distinc,
tion much longer, as some farmers
will outrank him in acreage during
the coming season. Mr.. Beadles is
an excommissioner of his county,
and is a very close observer of the
development of crops and their adj
aptability to soil and seasons. He
went to the Cherokee Strip when it
was opened to settlement and Sc
cured 1900 acres of upland. He
turned the virgin sod of 140 acres
of it and put in Kaffir corn. From
the crop he fattened 100 head Of
hogs and 1870 head Of cattle, that
brought top prices as corn-fed cat
tie at the Kansas City stockyards
| last winter. Last year Mr.. Beadler
put in 600 acres of Kaffir and this
year will have the entire 1900 acres
| under that cereal. The first crop
NJ. Beadles had was gathered in
time to SOW wheat in the same
ground.
| The acreage of Kafir in the
Cherokee Strip last year exceeded
that Of corn trifle and exceeded
corn $50 per cent in the number Of
bushels produced.
In Kansas the acreage Of corn ex-
ceeded that of Kafiir, but 1t is
thought they will be nearly equal
this year, with Kaffir far ahead in
the western half of the state, where
the July rainfall is quite short. In
the market at Wichita today, corn
lis offered at Is cents per bushei
while Kaffir brings % cents pei
bushel of so pounds. One fact
however, should be considered with
these prices, and that is the de-
mand for Kaffir for planting is SC
I great that the price is far above
what it will be in another year.
The fact is that Kaffir and corn are
expected in a year or two to be
about equal in value per bushel
, That must necessarily be the case
, as they are considered equal in
their fattening properties.
} Haviland Hansford, miller oi
, Wichita, and an extensive land
, owner near Enid. IN the Cherokee
Strip, thinks that corn has a shade
+ the best of Kaffir as q fattener-
! that is, the Sc pound bushel Of corr
| is ennal 10 the 60. Mound hnshel Of