The Raymer enterprise., 1912-12-12
IMPORTANT DRY FARM CROP
Plant Has Been Found Capable Of
withstandlno Long Dry Spells
and WitherIng Winds.

By DIR. C. X. FRANCIS. Chemist. Ok
lahoma Experiment Station.l
kaf1r' corn. a species of sorghum
named after the Kaflrs 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.troplcal 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 is solving the feed
problem, especially where cured as
ensilage. When properly ground 1t
produces meal which Is equal to
cornmeal, and it Is also used in the
preparation Of breakfast foods.
Kafir corn furnishes suitable raw
material for the manufacture OF dena-
tured or industrial alcohol. At so 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 a good material for
candy popcorn bars.
II very dry conditions exist at the
time when ordinary corn is in tassel
the pollen and silk shrivel, with the
result that the seed Is not fertilized,
and no grain Is produced. no matter
how favorable the conditions may be
later. This is not true OF Kafr corn,
for the plant has great vitality and
possesses characteristics which are
especially favorable for the produc.
ton OF seed. It may remain stationary
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.
Kaf1r cSn Is one OF the most import.
ant crops grown In the southwestern
states. Even in poor years yields Of
from Is to 30 bushels to the acre are
common. Last season when the corn
crop was a total failure In the dry dis.
tricts, Kaflr corn yielded on the Okla.
homa state experiment station farm
as much as 76 bushels per acre, and
the entire crop averaged So bushels.
For the season 19l1-12 the grain easily
sold for an average Of over so cents
per bushel. which makes 1t valuable
crop. even at yield Of only 20 bush.
els to the acre.
For 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
idea by agricultural authorities. A
crop OF Kafir corn. say 80 bushels per
acre, will remove &C. pounds Of potash
10.4 Of phosphoric acid, and 30.2
pounds Of nitrogen. Such small crop
Of corn as 35 bushels to the acre will
remove 7.9 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 proper rotation Of crops OF
by planting cowpeas between the rows
during the summer.