The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-11-25
Value Of Kafhr Corn.

kaftlr corn Is a non-SacclIariue sorp-
UNI. introduced from South Africa about
70 years ago. and it is grown extensively
in some OF the Southern and Western
States, both as a stock forage and a
grain crop.
The plant attains height OF d TO oH
feet, the stalks are thick short iointed
with broad leaves somewhat shorter and
thicker than corn leaves The heads are
compact, erect, and from 10 to IS inches
long.
While the crop is adapted to all soils,
1t makes the best growth and develop
ment on rich corn lands. At the same
time, profitable crops Can be produced
on ground that would be too poor for
Indian corn. In case'of drouths, Kafir
corn may stop growing and the leaves.
curl up, as do corn leaves. but they
remain green and start growing again
after the first rain. If the stalks are cut.
they sprout up again, producing a second
or even a third crop.
The Kansas Agricultural College farm
has been growing Kaffir corn Tor fully *
years, II not longer. 1t recommends
two varieties-the red and the black
hulled white. The former gave an aver
age yield of 81 bushels per acre, and the
latter 40 bushels. Many farmers in
Kansas, which State is pre- eminently
the adopted home of Kaffir corn, think
that the red variety is little harder in
drouth.
But the Record wishes more particu-
larly to point out the value of Kaffir
corn as a stock food. In mixed grains
for pigeons Kaffir corn is an important
ingredient. and with small grains. it is
largely used in the raising of chickens.
The best grain feeds or beef produc-
ton i'll the corn belt, are corn, Kaffir
corn and linseed meal; in the South,
cottonseed, corn, Kaifir corn and soy
beans
1t has been proved that for every 100
pounds OF grain IN steers it requires
1858 pounds OF Kaffir corn, against 1923
pounds of Indian corn. or 1892 pounds
oats, 1000 wheat, OH pounds of peas or
974 pounds of barley.
Kaffir corn grain is fed like corn for
fattening hogs, cattle, poultry and all
farm stock. According to the North
Carolina Station mature Kalfir corn con-
talns 1923 per cent. water, 2.o2 per cent.
protein, go per cent. nitrogen free
extract and 2.S6 per cent. fat
A bushel of Kaffir corn produced 10. s
pounds of pork at the Kansas Station,
compared with bushe of corn, which
produced II.e pounds of pork. But.
owing to the greater yield of Kaffir
corn, an acre produced 4S7 pounds of
pork, while an acre of corn produced
but 4Io pounds.
For hogs, the best results have been
secured when alfalfa, skim milk or soy
beans have been fed with Kaffir corn.
Kaffir cornmeal is somewhat consti
pating, and has been found especially
valuable to feed with skim milk to calves.
For horses, the grain may be fed in
the head; for colts and horses not work.
ing, the stalks and heads may be fed
together.
AT the Oklahoma Station co7rsely
ground Kaffir corn contained do per
cent. more digestible matter than the
whole grain. Generally, for all farm
animals should be ground. Poultry.
however. digest the whole grain more
completely than ground grain
kaffir corn fodder, without the grain,
much resembles CON stalk fodder after
the ears have been removed. Either
as fodder or silage it is relshed by cows
and has been to be found nearly equal
to corn.
In Oklahoma Kaffir corn slower proved
somewhat inferior to alalfa hay, but
equal to corn slower. In Kansas Kaffir
corn slower proved superior to corn
slower. - 4iiaaeIbhia Record.
The concrete building, which is being
erected at Thurmont as sub-station by
the Frederick Railroad Co., is nearly
completed. The building is 20 feet in
height. The roof is being put in posi-
tinn today L. 10 .lno .1..a..l.