Spelling and Definition

The Department of Agriculture set out to become lexicographer and authority in its own field. It issued a list of some 20 official spellings and definitions including: " Thresh " instead of "thrash"; "Brahma" instead of "Brahman" (Zebu cattle); " kafir " instead of " kaffir " or " kaffir corn "; " milo " instead of " milo maise "; " sorgo " instead of " cane sorghum"; "potato" for "Irish potato," "round potato," "white potato," " common potato "; " sweet potato" instead of "yam" for the plant Ipomoea Batatas; "purebred," "broomcorn," "butterfat" to be spellt as single words without hyphens.