The record-union., 1896-03-21
FARM And ORCHARD.
The Remarkable Stories Told About
Kaflr Corn.
1t Will Give Fair Yield in Localities
or Seasons Where Indian Corn
Will Produce Little.

No recently introduced plant has ex-
cited more attention, especially in the
South and West, than has Kaffir corn.
As is always the case, the most extray-
agant claims have been advanced for
the new plant, and undoubtedly many
conservative people have been deferred
from giving the plant a trial by these
very impossible things said in its favor.
But careful experimenters are finding
/ the true value of the plant, and in the
future Kaffir corn may be grown with
no extrayagant expectations.
| Professor Morrow of the Oklahoma
station says that while he believes it is
the most promising grain yet intro
duced for regions with warm summers
and light rainfall, he does not believe
it proven that it is equally valuable
with Indian corn in regions where the
latter can be relied on to produce fair
crops. Where experience has shown
that the latter cannot be safely relied
on he advises the growth of Kaffir corn
both for the grain and for the stalks and
leaves. In regions in which there is a
probability of drought it will be safe to
plant some Kaffir even if Indian corn
usually does well. The stories about
Kaffir corn giving good yields on any
kind of soil, or not needing rain nor
cultivation, are absurd.
Like any other crop, this does better
on good soil, with sufficient quantity
Of rain and with reasonable cultivation.
Under favorable circumstances Kaf-
fir corn has given yields of grain ap-
preaching 100 bushels per acre; but, as
with Indian corn, no such yield is to be
expected as the average. Probably with
equally favorable conditions, Indian
corn will give a larger yield both of
grain and stover than will KafTir, but
the Kaffir will give a fair yield in local
| tiles or seasons in which Indian corn
will produce little or no grain and a
light crop of fodder.
Not enough careful experimenting
has been done as yet to enable one to
state with positiveness the actual or
comparative values of Kaffir corn as
food. At the Oklahoma experiment sta
tion satisfactory gains have been made
by both hogs and cattle fed on no other
grain. At the Kansas station hogs made
fair gains, but no so much so when fed
corn. Tt is abundantly proven that Kaf-
fir corn is well liked by any class of
it and that no apparent injury to health
results. Sheep are said to eat the un-
ground grain whether threshed or un-
threshed with very little waste. The
same is true of poultry For horses, cat
tie or hogs it is much better to grind or
crush the grain; otherwise a considera-
BILE percentage passes through the ami
NAL undigested.
If it is not practicable to grind, it is
better to feed the unthreshed heads;
certainly to horses or cattle. In many
cases it may be the cheapest method to
feed stalks and heads together. AS
with corn, cutting makes it more con-
venient to feed and there is less waste.
To a limited extent Kaffir corn has
been used for human food-most gen
orally in the form of cakes, although
loaf bread has been made Of it. Enthu-
siasts have pronounced it equal to any
ether bread. A conservative view is
that it is fairly palatable to most per-
sons, nutritious and healthful. With the
natural indisposition to make changes
in such matters, it is not probable this
grain will soon come into general use as
food for man. 1t probably will be in
creasingly so used in regions where it
other grains are high priced.
Professor Latta of the Purdue Qnd.)
Station writes much in the same line.
He cautions the Hoosier farmers that
Kaffir corn is only recommended for the
drier climates in which Indian corn
cannot thrive Where Indian corn
grows to perfection, as it does in all
portions of Indiana, it would be ex-
Ixrr1 nj
the sorghums which have thus far
shown no special adaptation to this
section.
Although the Kaff1r corn and other
sorghums- have shown no superior
merits in previous trials at the Perdue
Station, the former will be more thor
oughly tested the coming season.
Farmers having very dry, warm soils
will do we'll to grow small areas of
Kafflr corn alongside the common field
corn for comparison. Those who in
tend trying Kaffir corn should remem-
ber that it is said to be very sensitive
to cold, especially when terminating.
The ground may be prepared at the
same time and in the same manner as
for common field corn, but the planting
of the Kaffir corn should be delayed
until late in May or early in June.
Meanwhile the prepared ground should
be cultivated from time to time as
weeds appear, so that it will be well
cleared of weeds before the seed is
planted. Put into clean ground thus
late, the seed will germinate more
promptly, and the early growth, which
is slow at best, will be more vigorous
than if planted early, and the subse-
quent labor of cultivation will be con-
siderably reduced. If much seed is de-
sired, plant the same as sweet sor-
ghum. If sorghum hay is desired it
is recommended that one bushels of
seed be sown broadcast, or three pecks
TO the acre in drills.
At the Kansas Experiment Station
the red Kaffir corn yields more grain
and fodder than the white variety, and
is considered superior to the latter,
while in Oklahoma just the opposite
results have been obtained by the farm
ers Of the territory.-Farm News.
DUCKS ON THE FARM.
The raising of ducks for the market
and for eggs is not so general as the
raising and keeping of chickens, be-
cause as ducks need constant access to
water not all farmers are prepared to
keep them. There are, however, some
farms which are especially adapted to
duck-raising on account Of the running
water in almost all their pastures.
Ducks need water, but not necessarily
a large amount. In the summer time
they enjoy a swim when they can get
it, but it is not necessary to their health
ii they can but paddle in shallow run
ming water TT is easy ia make in the