Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-01-12
WILL GROW KAFFIR CORN
A New Plan to Fertilize tho Arid
Regions Of the West.
New Mills VIII Have to De Put Ur
to Grind the Corn-It Makes II
Flour Finer Than Tint
OF Wheat.

~
have q great development during 1898,
and which will add largely to the agri-
cultural resources of the arid region of
western Kansas, Nebraska and Okla
| homa, once reckoned almost part of
the great American desert, is the rails
ing of kaffir corn. Kafiir, as its name
suggests, is of Africa origin, and is a
! substitute for both corn and wheat.
For two or three years PAST the depart
| mcnt of agriculture has been expert
menting with it, and it has BEEN found
| pcl uliarly adapted to the drought
stricken region Of the west, where a
crop of INDIAN corn cannot be realized
oftener than once in three years on the
average. Kaffir, it is claimed, fourishes
best where there is least rainfall, and
the seven plaques OF Kansas-drought,
sand, alkali, hot winds, grasshoppers,
chinch bugs and fake rainmakers--will
be alike powerless to affect it. If all
that the advocates of the new cereal
claim for it proves true, it will prove n
boon. indeed, to the dry district, and
may even drive Quits eighth and great
est plague-the mortgage holders.
In appearance, kaflir seems TO be a
cross between corn and sorghum. It's
season for growth is about the same as
that Of native corn, and it is cultivated
in much the same manner. The stalks
grow to a height of from four to six
feet and are about the size and thick
ness of ordinary corn stalks. 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
10y husks, are considerably smaller than
those of the native 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 90 pounds,
the same as wheat, but when ground it
requires six or seven pounds more of
wheat TO make an equal amount of
flour. Though the new grain is not
well enough established to determine
its average yield per acre, it is believed
that in this respect also it will have a
considerable advantage over wheat
The one objection which was thus far
prevented the cultivation of kaffir from
reaching any considerable proportions
has been the inability of existing mills
to grind it into flour suitable for max
ing bread. Many Kansas farmers and
a few in Oklahoma raised little of the
new grain as an experiment during the
past season. But when they took it to
the local mills, most of which are
equipped for the old burr process of
grinding, the result was found unsat-
isfactory, as the -four, though excellent
for cattle, was not ground fine enough
for house use. To overcome this diff
Guilty two or three of the men, who are
interested in establishing kaffir as a
staple cereal, went to Chicago, whe.e
n series Of experiments with different
kinds of machinery was carried on.
AS " result. it was found that the
finest of roller machinery worked sat
isfactorily in reducing the new grain
and turned it into flour winter and of |
finer quality than that obtained from
wheat. A mill at Marquette, Kan, has
already been equipped with the new
and is doing a lively bust
ness in grinding kaffir flour. 1t is an
nounced that big mill, specially |
equipped for this work, will be erected |
in Chicago, and will soon be ready for
operation.
The flour made from laffir has been
and pronounced as nutritious
rs wheat or corn. The bread made |
from it is as light and as agreeable to
the taste as the best wheat bread. 1t
s claimed that the kind or flour will
answer every purpose to fulfill which
indian corn and wheat are now relied
IN. The prospects of the new grain
'eem every bright, and If it endures the
est of year or two of trial we may
expect to see its cultivation extensive
y adopted, at least in the region where
rain is am infrequent and uncertain
luxury and disappointment is often the
OF of the farmer who relies upon the
wo great neutrality-suspicious.
on Star.