KAFFIR CORN.

BY J. W. GREGORY.

Those who have pinned their faith to the idea that the Great Plains country would be made habitable, have felt sure that time and investigation would reveal certain crops adapted to the conditions there prevailing. Already the success of alfalfa growing in the valleys and, under irrigation, on the uplands, has gone a long way towards solving the problem of utilizing for homes these vast stretches of most fertile soil. Hard wheat, too, has demonstrated its profitableness to the persistent sower, and sorghum will be a factor of no small value; but it is doubtful whether any other single crop, thus far tested, approaches Kaffir corn in real value as an all-around, every year reliable standby for the great semi-arid areas of the country.

Kaffir corn, like all the seed-head bearing, drought-resisting grain and fodder crops, is of African origin. Its seed is borne at the top of the stalk like the seed of the sorghums, but in an erect, long and compact head. The leaves are very abundant and long, and hold on well. The grain matures before the fodder and may be cut off before the fodder is harvested a very decided advantage over Indian corn, which must be cut before the grain is ready for harvesting if the fodder is to be saved. The grain is not only equal as a feed for stock, pound for pound, to the best Indian corn, but has proven so palatable and wholesome for table use that several of the Kansas mills have provided special machinery for grinding it into flour or meal, and it is steadily growing in favor.

The yield of seed was as high as sixty bushels per acre, and will average about the same as Indian corn. In addition to the grain, a heavy growth of the finest fodder is produced, which is greatly relished by stock. Even the stubble, left from cutting in the ordinary manner, will be eaten down to the ground, and the largest stalks are eaten up clean. Horses, cattle and sheep will eat it in preference to the best hay, when tested as to choice.

Few general field crops will better repay thorough tillage and the applica

tion of plenty of water and, on the other hand, no other crop yet tested will better withstand drought and neglect. If moisture is abundant, Kaffir corn thrives and attends strictly to business. If the water supply gives out and brassy skies and warm winds dry up and blow away Indian corn and crops of similar habits, Kaffir corn simply takes a rest and waits patiently for the next shower.

In general terms, it may be briefly stated that the preparation of the ground, the methods and times of planting and culti vation may be the same as with Indian corn. It is sensitive to frost, but not more so than is its Indian cousin. To make sure of a good full crop, a full average season of continued growth is required. If planting is too late, or cultivation deficient, or moisture lacking, or early fall frosts intervene, there will be more or less of a yield of roughness and more or less grain; but to be sure of a full crop, the seed should be planted as early as Indian corn would be and in ground as carefully prepared, and cultivation and moisture will be as well repaid.

There are two varieties, the red and the white. The red sort has proven greatly superior to the other as a yielder, making itself in about two weeks shorter time, producing a larger average yield of seed, a heavier growth of leaves to the stalk and having a much greater tendency to lift its seed-heads clear off the "boot" sheath. A large proportion of the heads of the white Kaffir will have a zone of mildewed grains at the base, because of not coming clear of the sheath.

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In planting, the seed should not, perhaps, be covered quite so deeply as Indian corn, but the rows should be about the same distance apart and the number of plants to the row or hill should be substantially the same as with the great staple. It may be check-rowed, drilled, listed or sown with results similar to those secured with the Indian corn.

The grain is sometimes harvested with a header and the stalks cut later; but there is danger of the heads heating and spoiling the grain if piled or binned in large masses before becoming thoroughly

dry. The best method of handling is to cut the whole crop close to the ground and after curing in the shock, run heads, stalks and all through a separator having a large proportion of the cylinder and concave teeth removed. This threshes out and separates the grain and puts the roughness in first-class shape for feeding.

If the seed is to be kept pure, the greatest care should be taken to prevent its mixing with sorghum, rice corn, broom corn, etc., which it will do unless kept out at a broad distance.

IRRIGATION IN NEW ENGLAND.

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HE Connecticut Pomological Society recently held a well-attended institute at Milford, at the invitation of the Indian River Grange.

"Irrigation in Fruit Culture" was discussed by Mr. J. C. Eddy, of Simsbury, in a practical paper telling of his success in irrigating strawberries the past season. A portion of the field was unirrigated and the results showed a difference of over $400 dollars per acre in favor of the watered portions. Mr. Eddy said that irriga tion can be accomplished on most New England farms by simply directing the many hillside streams that are now running to waste. The successful growth of small fruits demands water at just the right time.

Profitable irrigating means supplying an amount of water equal to one inch of rainfall per week. On Mr. Eddy's farm a large hydraulic ram is in use, as the fields are higher than the stream from which the supply is taken.

After the water is raised it is distributed through iron pipes, and at convenient points hose is coupled on and the water thoroughly distributed over the surface of the ground by means of a sprinkling nozzle. Mr Eddy is satisfied with the experiment, which paid its cost the first

others that the leaf-blight on strawberries is diminished where irrigation is practiced.

Chairman Hale, in telling of the work of irrigation now being done on his fruit farm, said that the near future would see the many streams of water on the farms all harnessed to do the work of irrigation. He cited an instance when a timely shower had made a difference of $200 per acre in a crop of peaches. But we must not depend on timely showers, but must have the necessary supply of water at hand at all times.

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/HEN the subject of irrigation was broached at the recent meeting of the Michigan Horticultural Society, the fact came out that, during the past season, at the Michigan Agricultural College, water was used on small fruits and a variety of garden vegetables. Despite the dry season two waterings carried the strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants and gooseberries through their fruiting seasons with little, if any, loss of crop from the dry weather. The gain from the use of water in the case of the vegetables was from three to six fold in bulk, but as the quality was much superior where they were irrigated, the gain in the money value of the crop was even more than this. The water was carried along the ends of the rows in small wooden troughs provided with gates at intervals of three feet along the sides, through which the water could be drawn as desired. Shallow furrows were used to distribute the water along the rows, and as good results were obtained in this way as where tiles, either at the surface or buried a foot or more in the ground, were used. As soon as the water soaked in, the ground was cultivated to keep the moisture from evaporation.

M. E. Williams, of Douglas, Michigan, then told of the results obtained the last

two years in his peach orchard. The water was pumped from a river by means of a steam pump, 400 gallons per minute being distributed. Mr. Williams obtained a marked gain in the growth of his peach trees from the use of water, while the strawberries, corn and potatoes grown between the rows were greatly benefited. He is well pleased with the result.

S. D. Willard, of Geneva, New York, spoke upon the past, present and future of fruit growing, claiming that horticulture had decided advantages over agriculture proper, and that this is likely to remain so for many years to come. He advised careful study of the merits of different varieties, thorough cultivation, spraying and manuring.

MINNESOTA CONVERTED.

URING the recent meeting of the

ciety, the great advantages of irrigation were acknowledged and advocated. In the Minnesota Horticulturist published by the Horticultural Society, appears the following, taken from the Minnesota Weather and Crop Review:

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"Tile draining, subsoil plowing and irrigation are three conditions of good farming that the tillers of the soil in this State must learn to appreciate. The benefits of their adoption have been so universal that the intelligent cultivator must acquaint bimself with them. When he has done so, he will not be slow to adopt them. subject of irrigation is an old one, dating back 2,000 B. C. It is also a large one; whole volumes having been written on it. The simple fact is that seventy to ninetyfive per cent of a growing plant is water, and that the solid portion of it can enter into it only in a soluble state. Hence, the first great need of all vegetation is water, the second is water and the third is more water. If this is not supplied naturally, it must be artificially. Nature has done her part well in Minnesota in that about seventy per cent of the total rainfall comes when most needed, during the growing season from April to September. The average precipitation during that time is twenty inches, fully seventy-five per cent, or fifteen inches, of which runs off and is evaporated, leaving only five inches available for plant life. You will see that this

partment of Agriculture, says: As the F. D. Coburn, Secretary Kansas Desorghums, and more especially the nonsaccharine sorts, are attracting wide attention now the fact that Kansas is having a larger experience with them than any other State (232,498 acres in 1895, and likely to be doubled in 1896), brings innumerable requests from all points of the compass for information as to their characteristics, growth, uses and values compared with those of other crops raised for similar purposes.

The foremost of these sorghums in popular esteem appear to be the red and white Kaffir corn. For seven years, beginning with 1889, the Kansas Experiment Station, at Manhattan, has grown Indian corn and red Kaffir corn side by side for the purpose of testing their comparative yields of both fodder and grain. The following table, compiled by Mr. F. C. Burtis of the station, who has had an oversight of the work, shows an annual yield of each: RED KAFFIR CORN, Grain Stover per acre. per acre. Bushels.

Year.

CORN.

Grain

Stover

per acre. per acre.

Tons.

Bushels.

Tons.

By this it is seen that the yield of Kaffir corn was very much larger than that of corn in five out of the six years, and the same as to the Kaffir corn forage every year. In fact the Kaffir corn yielded about 41 per cent more grain and nearly 95 per cent more fodder than the corn. The poor showing for both varieties in 1890 was due to a destructive frost September 12. In 1894 the failure of grain in both varieties was due to there being no appreciable rain from the middle of July to September 1, and the fact that the crops side by side on alternate plats were in a poor upland prairie soil underlaid with hardpan. Yet, under these adverse circumstances, the Kaffir corn yielded double the quantity of fodder that was obtained from the corn. As Mr. Burtis says, "Such dry weather kills the corn and it must then be cut, but the sorghums live on; although the growth may be checked the crop matures."

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Mr. Burtis presents the further conclusions from his experience up to the present time: For the combined purpose of raising the largest yield of grain and a fair quantity of stover, it is a fact beyond doubt that the red and white Kaffir corns are superior to any of the non-saccharine sorghums and the sugar (sorghum) canes. The latter will produce more hay or fodder, and of a little more palatable quality, than the Kaffir corns, and are preferred by many on account of this fact when hay or fodder is the sole object. Although there is a great deal said about which is the best, the red or the white, I believe when the proper comparison is made, the conclusion will show but very little difference, at least not as much as was first supposed. Aside from the color, there is a much greater difference between the different strains of the same variety than there is between the red and white varieties. few who have kept their seed pure and carefully selected can testify to this when they have been, for some reason, forced to buy seed outside and got hold of some poor stuff. These sorghums are very susceptible to cross fertilization and modification, and there will be a rapid improvement or deterioration, according to the care that is exercised in selection of seed. Much of the Kaffir corn seed that is offered for sale is not the best. One may get as much difference in results from Kaffir

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corn seed procured from two sources as between a very good variety of corn and a poor one."

IRRIGATING GRAIN.

N irrigating grain experiment has shown that by proper care in the application of a sufficiency of water prior to the planting of the seed, enough moisture can be deposited in the soil to mature a crop in any ordinary season, supplemented as it is certain to be by more or less rainfall at intervals. Thus, while twelve inches of rain are considered the minimum sufficient to produce a normal crop, and fifteen inches are better, yet with thorough saturation beforehand, and a subsequent precipitation of no more than six to ten inches, an abundant yield may be relied upon.

In preparing land for economically irrigating wheat or other grain, the land must be so situated that it has a slight slope and water from a given source conducted over all portions of it at a moderate outlay. Suppose that the field to be irrigated be supplied from the northern side and that it has a slope both to the south and east.

From the ditch on the north plow shallow furrows running toward the south, at distances which must be determined entirely by the nature of the soil. There are soils where water will seep from fifty to two hundred feet and there are others where streams are required every fifteen to twenty feet. After plowing the leading furrows at right angles to the main ditch, plow another set parallel to it and at the same distance from each other as the first ones. This will have the effect of cutting up the field into a number of small squares. The furrows should be shallow.

Now turn the water into them and let it run, not in a flood, but in a steady flowing stream, filling all the furrows gradually, and overflowing over the soil into the next series. Let the water run a day or perhaps two days, depending entirely upon the nature of the soil. But keep it running steadily until the soil is softened to a depth of two feet or more and it is impossible to walk about without miring. Then shut off the water, let the saturated soil dry until it will hold up a team (this may take one or two days) and then begin plowing. Set the plows so that they will go in beam deep and do not be afraid of

See to it that the water can get off your land as well as on to it.

Run your ditch lines on the high parts of your farm as far as possible.

Make the grade as light as possible and avoid "silting up" or setting.

About four feet to the mile is what ordinary soils will stand.

It is better to have to clean the silt out of your ditches than to have them cutting away the sides or bottoms.

Cutting might be called "perpetual motion.' If once begun it seems never to stop and the ditch gets lower and lower until you cannot get the water out of it.

A ditch should always be much larger than is apparently necessary.

When the ditch is completed let very little water in for the first few days and shut it off every afternoon. Watch it closely, for even with the greatest care in construction you will find that the ways of water in a new ditch "passeth all understanding."

Build the ditches broad and the banks broad and the cows can wander across the ditch without miring in its banks and starting out a little stream of water which in a few hours will cut away bank and ditch and perhaps wash a deep gash across the upper half of your field and bury an acre of wheat in the lower half.

No Cure as yet.-The Illinois Live Stock Association met at Springfield, during the session of the Illinois Farmers' Institute. A. J. Lovejoy, of Roscoe, member of the State Board of Agriculture and president of the Winnebago County Institute, read a paper on "Our Hog Interests." He claimed that the hog is the most important of all farm products, and gave many interesting figures. Regarding hog cholera, he said that as yet there is no cure for it.

His best suggestion was to take the well ones away from the sick ones, when the first symptoms appear. Place them at least sixty rods away, change the location often, use aconite to reduce fever; sprinkle the pen with carbolic acid; clean pen and burn bedding daily.

Fortunes in Cornstalks.-The possibility of making good syrup from corncobs has been established. Still another discovery is made. The Foos Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Ohio, has just completed special machinery to be used in the manufacture of cellulose from the pith of cornstalks. The product is the invention of Mark W. Marsden, of Philadelphia, and is to be used in the construction of United States men-of-war to prevent the inflow of water after the piercing of unarmored portions of vessels near the water line. Mr. Marsden states that a company with $1,000,000 capital has been organized at Philadelphia to manufacture the product, and that a large factory is now in course of erection at Owensboro, Ky.

Cranberries.-There is no one more interested in the subject of irrigation than those who raise, or rather are trying to raise cranberries. For the past ten years it has been uphill work. Fire has destroyed most of our vines, and in many instances the land also. Last fall I put down three wells, and erected three windmills, which are doing good work, and it is my intention to keep them running all winter. It is too early to tell what the result will be, but it looks promising. My greatest trouble is in confining the water. During the winter and until about the first of June it is absolutely necessary to keep the vines under water. I have my ground surrounded with a strong embankment, but the water seeps through in spite of me. The soil is peat and sand. Ordinarily the water is about to the surface, but latterly it is anywhere from four to six feet below. When I put down my wells in October and November, 1895, I first sank a curb, made of two-inch plank, down to water, then put down a six-inch pipe to rock, about fourteen feet, and drilled into that some fifty feet. To the top of the pipe I attached an eight-inch iron cylinder