The Colfax chronicle., 1903-10-17
FARMER AND PLANTER.
KAFFIR CORN AS FORAGE.
Crop That In Rapidly G-owing IN
Favor With Farmers of the
South and West.

Recently We have had several in
auiries concerning Kafir corn and its
value as a forage plant. This crop
seems to be growing in favor quite
rapidly in many parts of the west and
south, and is making more friends ev-
cry year. 1t is especially valuable in
nose sections where long-continued
ary weather is to be expected, as 1t has
great drought-resisting qualities.
The following from report issued
oy the Oklahoma experiment station
gives information that will be of in
terest in other states. We may add
that even where the corn does not fully
mature 1t is a good crop to raise for
The roughage 1t furnishes and to use as
supplementary green feed during dry
Ipells:
Although cotton, corn and wheat
are generally counted as the staple
agricultural products of Oklahoma"
said Secretary Thoburn, there are sew
eral other crops that are grown In
quantities sufficient to warrant their
being placed in the same category. Of
.hese, Kaffir corn is one of the most i'm
portant. This grain and fodder plant.
which is botanically classed as one of
The nonsaccharipe sorghums, is grown
TO greater or less extent in every
rounty-in Oklahoma, and especially in
The central and western parts of the
territory, in an increasing amount. The
total area in Kaffir corn last year is es-
limated at upward of 100 acres, the
yield in grain being probably close to
100000 bushels.
kaffr corn is a great drought reg
ister, and has never failed to produce
fodder crop in the dryest season on
the plains, and only at rare intervals
has it failed to yield return in grain
also. While the grain is of recognized
value in stock feeding, it is as fodder
that the Kafiir corn isi priced most
highly-the fodder is generally 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 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, 1t is best
TO feed the unthreshed heads, as the
grain is then more thoroughly masti-
Gated.
Where Kaffr corn is desired for
grain it is drilled in rows or planted
with a lister and then cultivated much
rs Indian corn is, though there are al
ways more stalks in hill or row than
there would be If the ground were
planted to corn. II fodder only is want
ed, the seed is drilled or broadcasted
In the same manner that small grains
are, and then the crop is harvested
with a mower and rake, the fodder be-
Ing handled much the same as hay
crop. Sometimes it is cut with a 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 II the fodder is cut with an
ensilage cutter or a fodder shredder
there is almost no waste at all. AS a
rule, Kaffir corn is not planted until at
ter the time of planting Indian corn in
Oklahoma.
There are several well-marked yarie-
ties of Kafflr in cultivation in Okla
homa, the white and red varieties be-
ing the most common. Several Of the
other nonsaccharine sorghums, such as
the Milo maize, Dourra, rice corn and
Jerusalem corn, are also grown, but
not in nearly so great quantity, nor
are they valued so highly for the pro-
duction of grain and fodder.
Besides being used for feeding
stock and poultry, the Kafir corn
grain, when ground into fine meal
and properly bolted, is used as, a pan
cake flour, and is said to make an ex-
cellent substitute for buckwheat Hour
for this purpose.-Farmers' Advocate