86 AMERICAN SQUAB CULTURE 



GRAINS AND SEEDS 



The following description of the various grains and seeds fed 

 to pigeons is from the pen of J. W. Williamson, tlie noted \\r^\ 

 Cross Grit man of Glassboro, N. J.: 



Kafir Corn 



Kafir corn is becoming quite popular with squab raisers, and 

 takes the place of Indian corn to a certain extent. While its 

 properties are not equal to Indian corn, yet at the same time it 

 makes a nice change, and is not a great deal below the rich fats 

 and protein given to Indian corn. One thing in its favor is, it 

 is not as binding as Indian corn, or as loosening to the bowels 

 as wheat. For pigeon food I class it between Indian corn and 

 wheat. 



It derives its name from a South African tribe known as 

 Kafirs, not Kaffir, as will be noticed in pigeon literature. 



The dictionaries, on the other hand, the Century, for example, 

 gives preference to the single "F." Government officials after 

 carefully looking the matter up also adopted the single "F." 



It was first grown in the United States in 1886. There are a 

 great many varieties. The most common seen in the markets 

 are the white and red, which are grown all over the United 

 States where Indian corn is raised. The most of it is raised in 

 the western states, between the Mississippi River and the Rocky 

 Mountains. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska produce 

 more of it than other states, from which western feed merchants 

 draw their supply. Farmers in the western states state they 

 can grow it with greater success than Indian corn, as it stands 

 the blight better. There is little difference in the nourishing 

 qualities of the white and red, but the latter is most prolific. 

 It is about the size of hem[) seed and the shape is round. To 

 our customers raising their own feed, we will cheerfully give 

 full directions how to raise their own Kafir corn, or any other 

 pigeon food grown in this country. Milo Maize and Feterita 

 are about the same as Kafir corn, also Egyptian corn which is 

 grown in California. 



Indian Corn 



When buying corn the purchaser usually asks for yellow 

 com, or Poor Man's com (the white variety), but with these 



