The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-01-19
The Soath AIucaa Maize flounSheS in
DNpSb or ket--rwiitiC 10 Yield
10 iny Soil,

Kansas and certain other sections OF
the middle west, IL appears that Il is des-
ined to become the most valuable grain
produced In America,
The records show that KAHN corn
was first introduced on this continent
from the Katir country, in Africa, less
than a decade since, n Is stll an UNI
known product TO nine-tcnths u the far
mers 81 the United States,
At first planted here and there as q
curiosity. Il was found to grow readily In
all localities and under all conditions, and
experiment developed the fact that Il
natures a crop in the dryest and hottest
seasons on the high Western plains, \
morn extended planting OF the new grain
and a comparison OF the results obtained
oon developed the fact that whether the
eason was wet OF dry. cool or hot, long
or short. this new product would thrive
on all kinds Of soils with the minimum
OF care OF cultivation, and planted any
time between the tst OF April and the
middle OF July It would mature an ahso-
lutely sure crop OF grain and fodder be-
fore the frosts Of autumn.
II will grow luNuriantly on the sod OF
newly broken ground. reduce fine crops
either on bottom or upland. IS a natural
enemy o. weeds and will be as clean with
two CIVILIZATIONS as Indian corn will he
with four times as many.
II Is rather slow in terminating, and
getting a start OF growth. but Is torrr-
spondinsly SURF. 10 requiring rains TO
sprout Il. and when once well ander way
It grows right straight a~long-cloudy
weather or bright. drouth or rain, hot
winds or northers all being the same to
it and seemingly OF equal benefit to It's
growth,
The stalk looks somewhat like u single
shoot Of Common corn, hut shorter, at
tanning a height usually OF from "a 10 .
feet. and having pointed leaves OF a rich
green color, TIE grain forms In u head
at the eNtereme point Of the shoot, where
the tassel is on ordinary corn. the heads
being from : to l. inches In clrcumfcr-
cnce. and when ripe looks like great red
or white plun,cs standing proudly erect.
The grains are almost round. 4 little
larger than a grain OF rice and much re-
semhling a grain Of wheat in interior
structure.
There are two varieties. red and white.
the latter being the f~lvorite cron. and
the grains taken separately compare in
appearance most remarkably with an
cient descriptions OF the mama sent the
children OF Israel during their wander
ilgs In the desert, and. coming as Il did
TO the people OF the Western plains this
year when wheat and all else was so
greatly affected by the drouth. Il seemed
like another supply Of mama sent by the
God OF Israel.
Though raised as an experiment here
and there throughout the West for sew
eral years. IL was not until the present
year that it became a prominent crop
When the irouth Of last spring killed the
wheat and oats and seemed almost GER
tain to ruin the corn. the few who had
had experience will the new grain began
to advise their %relghhors to plant Kaiir
corn, as Il would grow all right In dry
weather. and they could hus at least
raise feed for their stock. The news
papers took MP the advice, and soon every
farmer throughout the West was plant
ing Kafr corn. utilizing the groun I
where his wheat and oats had failed or
planting on sod or scattered patches
where his early corn had been burned
out.
The planting was continued dntil well
along in August. the acreage being in
sections greater than that ever de-
voted 10 a single crop. IN Oklahoma alone
1000 acres were planted with the
new crop, And every grain OF 1t planted
grew and thrived 10 maturity. and before
summer was over the farmers began
to wonder what they would do with IL
all. They knew II was good feed for
stock. but there was not stock enough
in tho territory to begin TO consume It.
md the product was yet so new that 1t
was not recognized in the outside mar
Experience had already developed the
fact that II made a most desirable feed.
either 10 winter stock or fatten them for
market, but with an abundance OF the
on hand Oklahoma farmers soon
discovered that It was better for horses
either corn or oats. making them
and stout and giving them a sleek.
glossy appearance. Both horses and
not only like and thrive on The
grain. but do as well on the fodder ms IN
the best Of hay, and will cat up the en-
stalk, even after II Is quite dry, and
cows produce richer milk and more OF II
when fed on hay and bran.
When f. came to feeding hogs II was
found that hey gained flesh more
than when fed On common corn.
and pruitryncn have found the Kafir
an admirable egg producer. and
when fed gnthreshed the fowls IRE given
1XerciFe in picking II from the d 4.
The boys and girls soon discovered that
[ would pop az good as popcorn, theI
grains popping out quite large, white1
and tender. and women in the country
that boiled like rice the grain was
xccllelt eaten with cream and sugar,
hat mashed into a pulpy mass It made
IN admirable pudding, and 1t was also a
lrst-c'ass substitute Cor hominy, being
prerarcd much easier than the regular
sIadcs.
still the quantity produced was 70
that the people continued to Won
Ter what they would do with It.
The owner Of the rolling mills at Medl-
ire Lodge. Kar.. on experiment bent,
some Of the grain through his corn
neal grinder, and produced a meal pro-
in every way equal to the ordi-
larry corn meal, but he was not content
With this, but rugged up a special set of
,urrs and produced a new product that
ids fair to create a revolution in the
worlds breadstuhs-Kahir nour.
Some Of this -four was taken by Mrs. I.
Stout, Of Medicine Lodge, and made
nto light bread. The bread was fully
- white as bread made from second
'rade wheat flour, and was sweet and
I~alatahle. The flour was handled by
irs. Stout Just as she does wheat flour
n making light bread, and the bread IN
o way rcsembled corn bread.
Samples Of this first batch Of Kafr
were sen 10 various towns, and
was everywhere pronounced equal to
read made from wheat flour, the only
being It's dark color. II is,
Owever, not darker than the ordinary
iraham bread, and Is pronounced much
etter In havor by the majority Of those
have tried II.
The Medicine Lodge mill at once began
Iaking the -four in quantity, but could
Of begin to supply the demand. As the G
ime or the new product spread other 1
Ills began to make II, until at the pres !
1t time half the mills along the South 3
y Kansas border and two-thirds of
lo2e In Oklahoma are turning out KafirI .
AID meal. BY actual experiment !
his " household, the writer has
md the liOui TO make admirable bread
I'd biscuits, and to do fairly well I'M