American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-12-19
IMPORTANT DRY FARM CROP
Plant Has Been Found Capable o.
W~IthstandIno Long Dry Spells
and whitening Winds.

(By DIR. C. X. FRANCIS. Chemist. OK
jahoma Experiment Station9
Ka1r corn. a species Of sorghum
named after the Kaflrs Of South Afric
, was introduced into this country by the
| United States department m agricuF
ture about 1885, and within a few years
became an important crop. A native
of semltropical Africa, the plant has
been found capable OF withstandine
long dry spells and hot winds to q re-
markable degree. The amount planted
increases every year, and In cattle In
the United States 1t is solving the teed
problem. especially where cured as
ensilage. When properly ground II
produces a meal which Is equal to
cornmeal. and 1t is also used In the
preparation Of breakfast foods.
Kafr corn furnishes a 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 n 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 Kaflr corn,
for the plant has great vitality INT
possesses characteristics which are
especially favorable for the produc-
ton Of seed. 1t may remain stationary
with curled leaves for days and even
weeks. but after a favorable rain re-
covers rapidly and produces a 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 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 rs bushels per acre, and
the entire crop averaged SO bushels.
For the season 19l1-12 the grain easily
sold for an average Of over 80 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 corr 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 SIS pounds of potash,
1914 Of phosphoric acid. and 800
of nitrogen. Such a small crop
,f corn as 35 bushels to the acre will
10 pounds Of potash. 1888
Of phosphoric acid and 1852
of nitrogen. 1t appears. then,
hat corn O more OF the essen.
ial plant foods, with the exception OF
nitrogen, which may easily be replen-
shed by a proper rotation of crops or
~ planting cowpeas between the rows
the summer.