The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-19
About Kamr Corn.

Oklahoma Letter in Kansas City Journal.
The secretary of the Board of Agricul-
ture, who is building UP department of
crop statistics for Oklahoma, has CLASH
fed all the information at hand and has
a good start for his department. In gath
ering and classifying the incomplete crop
reports from the different counties he finds
that kaffir corn has come to be very i'm
portant crop of the Territory.
Although cotton, corn and wheat are
generally counted as the staple agricul-
tural products of Oklahoma" said Secre-
tary Thoburn to-day. there are several
other crops that are grown in quantities
sufficient TO warrant their being placed in
the same category. OF these kaffir corn
is one of the most important. This grain
and fodder plant which is botanically
classed as one of the nonsaccharine sor
ghums, is grown 10 a greater or less ex-
tent in every county in Oklahoma. and es-
'pecially in the central and western parts
The total area in kaffir corn last year is
estimated at upward of 100000 acres, the
yield in grain being probably close to o.
600 900 bushels.
"Kaffir corn is a great drought resister
and has never yet failed to produce a fod-
der crop in the dryest season on the plains,
and only at rare intervals has il failed to
yield return in grain also. While the
grain is of recognized value in stock feed
ing, it is as a fodder crop that kaffir corn
is priced most highly-the fodder is gem
orally of a finer texture than corn, and
there is, therefore, less waste ordinarily
ton for ton than in the latter. The dried
seed weighs from fifty-six to sixty-one
pounds per bushel. Its feeding value is
not quite equal to that of Indian corn.
The grain should preferably be ground be-
fore feeding to any kind of stock, and
where this is not practicable ii is best to
feed the unthreshed heads. as the grain is
then more thoroughly masticated.
Where kaffir corn is desired for grain,
1t is drilled in rows or planted with a lister
and then cultivated much as Indian corn
is, though there are always more stalks
in Hill or row than there would be If the
| ground were planted to corn. If fodder
| only is wanted, the seed is drilled or broad
casted in the same manner that small
grains are, and then the crop is harvested
with mover and rake, the fodder being
| handled much the same as a hay crop.
| Sometimes ii is cut with binder and cured
| in sheaves. Where the stand is thick
| enough on the ground the fodder Is fine
enough in quality to be devoured by stock
| with very little waste, and if the fodder is
| shredder there is almost no waste at all
| AS a rule kaffir corn is not planted until
after the time Of planting Indian corn in
Oklahoma.
| of kaffir corn in cultivation in Oklahoma
| the white and red varieties being the most
/ common. Several of the other nonsaccha-
D.! rine sorghums, such as the Milo maize
| Dourra, rice corn and Jerusalem corn, are
also grown, but not in nearly so great a
| quantity nor are they valued so highly fol-
| the production of grain and fodder.
| Besides being used for feeding stock and
poultry, the kaffir corn grain. when ground
into a fine meal and properly bolted, is
| used as a pancake -four and is said tc
| make an excellent substitute for buckwheat
| flour for this purpose"