Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-09-03
FARMERAND PLANTER
KAFFIR CORN AS FORAGE
A Crop That is Rapidly Growing In
Favor With Farmers of the
South md West.

Recently we have had several in
quiries 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
those sections where long-continued
dry weather is to be expected, as it has
great drought-resisting qualities.
The following from a report issued
by 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 it is a good crop to raise for
the roughage it furnishes and to use as
a supplementary green feed during dry
spells:
Although cotton, corr and wheat
are generally counted as the staple
agricultural products of Oklahoma,
said Secretary Thoburn, there are sew
eral other crops hat are grown in
being placed in the same category. OF
| these, Kaffir corn is one of the most i'm
portant. This grain and fodder plant.
which is botanically classed as n OF
the nonsaccharine sorghums, is grown
to a greater or less extent in every
county in Oklahoma, and especially in
the central and western parts of the
territory, in an increasing amount. The
| total area in Kafir corn last year is es-
timated at upward of 100 acres, the
yield in grain being probably close to
100000 bushels.
"Kaffr corn is a great drought reg
lister, and has never failed to produce
a fodder crop in the dryest season on
the plains, and only at rare intervals
| has it failed to yield a return in grain
also. While the grain is of recognized
value in stock feeding, it is as a fodder
that the Kaffir corn is 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, it 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 row or planted
with a lister and then cultivated much
as Indian corr is, though there are al
ways more stalks in a hill or row than
there would be if the ground were
planted to corn. If fodder only is want
ed. the seed is drilled or broadcasted
in the same manner that small grains
are, and hen the crop is harvested
with a mower and rake, the fodder be-
ing handled much the same as a 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 De
devoured by stock with very little
waste. and if the fodder is cut with an
ensilage cutter or a fodder shredder
there is almost no waste at all. AS a
rule, Kafir corn is mo- planted until al
ter the time of planting Indian corn In
Oklahoma.
There are several well-marked varie-
ties of Kaffr 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 a quantity, mol
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 a fine meal
and properly bolted, is used as a pan
cake flour, and is said to make an ex-
cellent substitute for buckwheat flour
for this purpose.-Farmers' Advocate