158 FARM CROPS 



It would pay to sow the seed as any other crop. 

 In seeding a light harrowing will not be amiss, but 

 the ordinary rains will sufficiently cover the seed. 

 When warm weather approaches it grows rapidly 

 until frost comes. Its greatest value is as a restorer 

 of worn-out fields, and to do such work it stands 

 unequaled among the renovating crops of the 

 South. 



JAPANESE MILLET.— See Millet. 



KAFIR CORN. — As a substitute for corn in the 

 semi-arid regions of the West kafir corn is a great 

 success. It grows from 4 to 8 feet in height. The 

 stalks are thick, rather short jointed, with broad 

 leaves much like corn leaves. The grain is centered 

 in the head, which is compact, ranging from 10 to 16 

 inches in length. There is not much nutrition in 

 the stalks. The leaves, however, are good and 

 very good yields are obtained from each acre of the 

 grain. The yield ranges from 35 to 50 bushels to 

 the acre. In good years, with a reasonable amount 

 of moisture and on rather good soils 75 to 100 

 bushels of grain ma^' be secured. 



Grown side by side in these dry sections kafir 

 corn as a rule outyields Indian corn. Varieties in 

 general cultivation are the red, white and black 

 hulled. The red and black hulled are the 

 best yielders and both are hardy. The grain is 

 used as a substitute for Indian corn. It is used 

 very successfully for feeding horses and for fatten- 

 ing hogs and cattle or other farm stock. For fat- 

 tening purposes it is not far behind Indian corn. 

 Since the yield in these dry lands is greater with 

 the kafir corn a little more pork is usually secured 

 to the acre from growing it than from the Indian 

 corn. Kafir stover looks very much like or- 



