The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-01-22

FOOD CROP Fer ARID REGIONS.
6als1ng ofKafar Corn Expected to Rende,
Fertile Many Tracte.

baising ofKafar Corn Expected to Rende
: Fertile Many Tracts.
A new industry, which is expecte,
10 have q great development durin,
1898, and which will add largely t,
The agricultural resources of the arit
region of Western Kansas, Nebraska
and Oklahoma, once reckoned almes
part Of the great American desert, i:
the raising of Kafir corn. Kafir, a,
It's name suggests, is of African orr.
gin, and is substitute for both corn
and wheat. For two or three wears
past the Department of Agriculture
has been experimenting with it, and il
has been found peculiarly adapted to
the 'drouth-stricken region of the west.
where crop of Indian corn cannot be
realized oftener than once in three
years on the average.
In appearance, kaf1r seems to be q
cross between corn and sorghum. Its
season for growth Is about the same as
that OF native corn, and it is cultivated
IN much tho same manner. The
stalks grow to height of from four to
six feet and are about the size and
thickness Of ordinary cornstalks. The
stalks bear more leaves than those OF
Indian corn, however, and these
leaves are broader, longer and of
deeper color. The grain grows at the
top of the stalk and the kernels, which
are unprotected by husks, are con.
siderably smaller than those of the M.
tive product and of dark purplish |
hue. These seeds or kernels, are
very hard and firm, and in grinding
them there is little waste, on account
OF the thinness Of the hull. A bushel
Of the grain weighs sixty pounds, the
same as wheat, but when ground it
requires six or seven pounds more Of
wheat to make an equal amount OF
-four.
The one objection which has thus
lar prevented the cultivation of kafir
rom reaching any considerable pro-
portions has been the inability Of ex-
sting mills to grind it into flour suit.
'ble for making bread. Many Kansas
atmers anda few in Oklahoma raised
} little of the new grain as an expert.
aent during tho past season. But
When they took it to the local mills.
most of which are equipped for the
Id burr process Of grinding, the re.
ult was found unsatisfactory, as the
our, though excellent for cattle, was
ct ground fine enough for house use.
% overcome this difficulty two or !
hree OF the men who ore interested ,
4 establishing kadir as staple cereal, =
'ent to Chicago, where series of ex. .
erlments with different kinds of ma. y
hinery was carried on. !
AS result, it was found that the | :.
nest of roller machinery worked sat. =
factorily in reducing the new grain, ~
I'd turned it into -four whittier and Of !
aer quality than that obtained from \
heat. A mill at Marquette, Kan, "
IS already been equipped with the
wv machinery, and is doing lively
lslness in grinding kaAir corn. It is d,
|nounced that big mill, specially Sc
ulpped for this work, will be erected ~
Chicago, and will soon be ready 70, ri
eration. - -
The flour made from kafir has been f.
amined and pronounced as nutri. NJ
us as wheat Or corn. The bread in i.
de from it is as light and agreeable NJ NJ
the taste as the best wheat bread, 81,
is claimed that the new kind Of ;s,
qr will answer every purpose to ~ ~
ill which Indian corn and wheat sh l
now relied on. The prospects Of p,
new grain seem very bright, and A's
t eadures the test Of year or two
Trial we may expect to see it's cult.
Ion extensively adopted, at least in eri
,, region where rain is an inirequent da
| uncertain luxury and disappoint. an
Mt is often the lot of the farmer who a =
les upon the two great American an
pies. ha