106 
THE BARTE LD E S 
SEED COMPANY 
Kaffir Corn 
Farmers of the west and middle west, where the 
annual rainfall is below thirty inches, should plant 
more Kaffir Corn, Milo Maize, Feterita, and less Corn. 
The records of the Kansas State Board of Agri^, 
culture show that for the past eighteen years the 
average value of corn per acre was $9.54 and of Kaffir, 
$12.88. In 1918 the returns on Kaffir were $23.54 per 
acre as compared to $10,34 per acre for corn. 
Mr. John Fields, Editor of the Oklahoma Farmer, 
has formulated a safe system which every farmer 
in the west and southwest could profitably adopt with 
modifications to fit local conditions. 
"Corn should be planted only on lands which have 
yielded not less than twenty-five bushels of corn 
to the acre at least one year in the last five. 
Every acre of rich, well drained land, which does 
not overflow frequently, or for long periods of time 
should be put in alfalfa as soon as possible. 
The smooth tillable uplands and prairies should 
never be planted to corn. They should instead be 
planted to Kaffir, Milo, or some other variety of 
sorghum for a sure crop of grain for feed or sale 
and for filling silos and for providing rough feed; 
to peanuts and cow peas for feed, and 
forage and soil improvement; and to 
cotton, wheat, oats, and broom corn for 
cash crops wherever soil and climate 
are suitable." 
A good seed bed for corn will prove a 
good bed for Kaffir. The field should be 
prepared with these objects in view: 
To store and conserve moisture, to per- 
mit of deep rooting by the plant, and 
to free the . ground from weeds. The 
cultivation should be effective in con- 
serving moisture. 
When grown in rows for the maximum yield of 
both grain and fodder, 6 to 8 pounds to the acre in 
SY2 foot rows are desirable, although this quantity 
is frequently reduced to 3 or 4 pounds. Thin plant- 
ing, however, produces coarse stalks which are not 
readily eaten by stock and a small number of large 
heads which yield less grain than the large number 
of small heads resulting from thicker seeding. When 
the crop is to be harvested by hand thin planting is 
desirable. For hay and pasture it should be much 
thicker — one-half to one bushel to the acre in rows 
or drills and one to two bushels in broadcast seeding. 
In Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, the common method of 
planting' Kaffir is by listing. This plants the seed at the 
bottom of a furrow several inches below the level of the 
field. This furrow is filled by the first two cultivations. 
This puts the root system farther below the surface and the 
plants are said to be better able to resist drought. Listing 
also affords the young plants protection from the strong 
winds and blown sand. 
In surface planting the ordinary corn planter with special 
sorghum plates may be used or enough of the holes in a 
grain drill may be stopped up to give the desired distance. 
When the crop is desired for hay or pasture good results 
can be secured by sowing the seed with a grain drill with 
all holes open or by broadcasting. 
PINK KAFFIR CORN. (See under Novelties.) 
WHITE KAFFIR CORN. It makes a straight upright growth 
and has a strong stem with enormous wide leaves. The stalks 
keep green and are brittle, making excellent fodder, either green 
or dried, which is highly relished by cattle and horses. The heads 
form at the top of each stalk. For the grain sow in rows 3 feet 
apart, 3 to 5 pounds of seed to the acre. For fodder sow one-half 
to one bushel, either broadcast or in drills. Lb., 10c. 
RED KAFFIR CORN. This grows taller than the white; the 
stalks are more slender, but more juicy and leafy. The heads 
are long, slender, compact, and grow very erect; they measure 
from 8 to 15 inches. The seed is red, smaller than that of the 
white, and rather hard and brittle. It does well on poor land 
and yields well. It ripens a little earlier than the white variety. 
It is highly recommended by the Kansas Agricultural College 
at Manhattan. Lb., 10c. 
DWARF BLACK WHITE KAFFIR CORN. The value of the 
Dwarf Kaffir over the tall is apparent. In the first place the 
Dwarf Kaffir can be harvested with a grain header. By being 
able to harvest Kaffir in this manner a considerable saving in 
labor is effected. In the second place plants of dwarf stature 
expose less surface to the sun, and therefore can get along with 
less water. Pkt., 5c; lb., 10c. 
FOR PRICES OF FIELD SEEDS, SEE OUR PINK LIST. 
MAILED FREE AT ANY TIME. 
Airlift Jf» 
Field of Kaffir Corn. 
