The National tribune., 1896-02-20
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Kamr Corn.

| 1t was first brought to the United States some
/ 10 years ago. Until recently but little at
tentIon was given it, so that it is still an un-
known article TO nine-tents of the farmers.
hatlr corn is kind of DOn-saccharine
/ sorghum There are two varieties which
are generally grown-the white and ths
red. The former has short and stocly stalk.
with short joints and very little Juice. The
/ leaves are large and numerous. The heads
grow erect in large panieles, and bear large,
white seeds. The grains are almost round,
little larger than a grain of rice. and re-.
/ sembling wheat in interior structure. TIE
| red variety is taller, with slender and more
! juicy stalks. The seeds are red smaller.
and very hard and brittle. Red Kaffir corn
| ripens little earlier than the white, and is
\ considered the most valuable for farmers in
| general. 1t combines n large yield of fod-
der with the largest yield of grain, and the
/ fodder IL relished BIZ the stock as that of
/ the white variety is not. It also does better
| on poor land, but responds well to good soil
| and plenty of moisture.
kaffir corn can be grown in a great variety
Of soils and under widely differing copdi-
| tions of climate but the assertion that N
thrives on drought is unfounded. Itrequires
no rain to sprout ii, and when rains are infre-
quent will continue tOgrOw after many other
| plants have come to standstill. 1t will
keep green during prolonged period of
drought, 50 that it readily responds to the
first rainfall. It's endurance of dry weather
is owing to its numerous and deep-set roots.
This peeuliarity is what makes it so valuable
in sections liable to severe droughts Kahir
corn suffers little injury from winds, ano
stands the heat of the semi-arid regions bet
ter than Indian corn, but in sections where
bo loft bo ,oxlo
substitute the Kaffir corn.
In raising Kaffir corn plow the ground
and put in fine condition before planting.
The time of planting varies with the locality.
The seed should never be put in until the
ground Is thoroughly warm as it is unite
slow to germinate. Shallow planting will
help termination much half as deep as for
corn Is good depth. The early growth is
very slow and the plants tender. It may be
sown either in hills or drills The latter
way is to be preferred. The drills should
be set to plant four or five pounds of seed to
the acre. If grain is wanted, drill the rows
far enough apart to admit of cultivation.
Experiment shows this to be about two and
oue-half feet. The stalks should be from
four to six inches apart in the row. When
grown for forage only the seed is sometimes
broadcasted and the crop is fed green or is
cut and cured like hay. In this case about
one bushel Of seed will suffice per acre. If
cut before the seed natures, it will start a
second growth, which will give considerable
forage.
As food product Kaffir corn has consider
able merit 1t makes q meal equal to corn
meal, and is an excellent substitute for
hominy. II pops as we'll as popcorn. The
stalks are good fodder for cattle, horses and
hogs, while the seeds are excellent for fat
tening stock, poultry and horses and as a
milk-producing food for cows. The yield of
seed, like that of every other crop, varies
with the soil and season, but under ordinary
conditions from 40 to so bushels NAV be
looked for, though it sometimes runs much
higher.
The popularity which this new cereal has
already attained is shown by the fact that
last year 184 1913 acres were planted 10 il in
Kansas, as contrasted with 95, ,237 acres in
1894. Oklahoma, Nebraska, California, and
other States are also increasing its acreage,
and the reports are generally very favorable.
While it is by no means desirable for the
farmer to abandon the cultivation of old
grains and forage crops for new one, how
ever promising it is desirable that limited
trial should be made and we urge those
whose climate and conditions seem favorable
" buC EiOWtu VI NdiII COIu tO piduI " SludIl
area at first and judge for themselves whether
they will be benefited by the change before
going into it on an extended scale. Kafir
corn is undoubtedly very valuable grain,
but 1T has its Limitations, and, as with other
things, experience is necessary to success.
Manuring Orchards with Potash.
All fruit growers know that potash in
large amounts is necessary for bearing fruit
trees. But they are very apt to delay its
application until late in spring or sometimes
until Midsummer, when the young fruit is
fast falling from the tree for lack of the ma
terial to form its seeds. Then it is too late
for the potash to do any good that season,
as there is seldom rain enough after Mid
summer to dissolve the potash and carry it
within reach of the tree roots. The proper
time to apply any kind of fertilizer to an
orchard is in the Winter. Then the melting
SHOWS and Spring rains carry it's soluable
portions into the soil. There is In every
direction from q vigorous tree such a net
work of roots that there is no possibility OF
the fertilizer being washed away through
the soil without being at some point taken
up and brought into the tree. 1t is not best
to use much stable manure on orchards. It
promotes large wood growth, but it is also
likely to breed fungous diseases, which grow
that have too much nitrogenous and too
little mineral fertilizer. The pear especially
needs to be mainly fertilized with mineral
manures, as these last will not cause blight,
but will tend rather to prevent it by promot-
ing healty foliage.
Baldwin Apple.
The red color and its admirable shipping
qualities enable the Baldwin apple to sell
for % to 80 cents per barrel more than Green
lngs in most markets. The Baldwin does
not show bruises as readily as the other
apple, and is less affected by scab or blotches
AS an eating apple it is greatly preferred
but for cooking, the Greening has points of
superiority. The latter may yield more
fruit than the Baldwin, taking one year
with another, and is more likely to yield
The Baldwin has an upright
growth that makes il easy 70 cultivate,
whereas the Greening has low, spreading
habit that does not facilitate the cultivation
which is now advised in the commercial
apple industry. Each variety has it's adj
Gautages both are therefore worthy of being
aised on any farm where they thrive, but
he Baldwin is above all the commercial
Ipple.
Confederate Soldiers Blanket.
tStslby (N CO Aurora.l
W. s. McFarlin, who resides near Gray
fables, President Cleyeland's Summer home
n Massachusetts,, is spending the Winter al