The Ordway new era. (Ordway, Colo.) 1902-1927, 1912-12-13
IMPORTANT DRY FARM CROP
Plant Has Been Found Capable OF
withdrawing Long Dry speils
and whitening Winds.

Cry DIR. C. X FRANCIS. Chemist. Ok
lahoma Experiment Stationl
kafir corn. a species OF sorghum
named after the kafirs OF South Afric
was introduced into this country by the
United States department of agricul-
ture about 1885, and within few years
became an important crop. A native
Of semi-tropical Africa. the plant has
been found capable OF withstanding
long dry spells and hot winds to re.
markable degree. The amount planted
increases every year. and in cattle In
the United States 1t Ia solving the feed
problem. especially where cured as
ensilage. When properly ground 1t
produces meal which Is equal to
cornmeal. and 1t Is also used in the
preparation Of breakfast foods.
kafir corn furnishes a suitable raw
material for the manufacture Of dena-
tured or industrial alcohol. At 80 cents
a bushel for the grain 1t would cost
about 20 cents to make one gallon OF
the alcohol. 1t will pop. and In this
form serves as good material fQq
| candy popcorn bars.
II very dry conditions exist at tho
time when ordinary corn ia in tassel
the pollen and silk shrivel, with the
result that the seed Ia not fertilized.
and no grain Ia produced. no matter
how favorable the conditions may be
later. This Is not true OF Kaflr corn.
for the plant has great vitality and
possesses characteristics which are
especially favorable for the produc-
| nj - ~ uf a
with curled leaves for days and even
weeks. but after favorable rain re-
covers rapidly and produces good
crop Of grain and fodder. The reasons
for this are that the plant Is not as
tall as corn: its nodes are shorter and
the leaves closer together. SO that
there Is not as much surface exposed
for evaporation. and In this way the
| moisture Is conserved. The kernels
or seeds are borne at the top OF the
plant In an elongated head. bringing
the flowers close together. thus max.
ing conditions favorable for fertiliza-
ton.
Kafir corn Is one of the most import
ant crops grown In the southwestern
states. Even In poor years yields OF
from Is to 80 bushels to the acre are
| common. Last season when the corn
crop was n total failure In the dry dis
tricts. Kafir corn yielded on the Okla
homa state experiment station farm
| az much az 76 bushels per acre. and
the entire crop averaged 52 bushels.
For the season 1911-12 the grain easily
sold for an average OF over so cents
per bushel. which makes 1t a valuable
crop. even at a yield Of only 20 BUSH
els to the acre.
For a time Kafir corn was not plant
| ed in some sections because 1t was
said to be Injurious to the soil. No
support has ever been given to this
Iidea by agricultural authorities. A
crop Of Kanr corn. say 80 bushels per
acre. will remove SIS pounds OF potash.
1914 Of phosphoric acid. and 3o.2
pounds OF nitrogen. Such small crop
Of corn az IS bushels to the acre will
remove 10 pounds OF potash. 1888
pounds OF phosphoric acid and 25.2
pounds of nitrogen. 1t appears. then.
that corn removes more Of the essen
tial plant foods. with the exception OF
nitrogen. which may easily be replen-
ished by a proper rotation Of crops or
by planting cowpeas between the rows
during the summer.