Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-07-02
Rye a Profitable Crop.


During several months.past the price
of rye has been higher than that OF
wheat in all the leading markets in the
country. The crop last year was some
what short while the demand for it was
unusually large. A very large class of
our foreign inhabitants were accustomed
to the use of rye in their old homes, and
continue to eat it in preference TO wheat
after they come to this country. Bread
made of rye retains its moisture longer
than that made of wheat. 1t has more
! flavor, and on that account is more palat.
able when eaten without butter or fruit
sauce. The great number of persons
who are daily arriving from various por-
tons of Germany and the Scandinavian
countries will cause q large demand for
rye next season, and farmers will do
we'll TO consider this fact in deciding
what grains to sow. The circumstance
that the price of rye is higher than that
of wheat shows that the former is neg
lected crop, and one that is deserving of
more attention than it receives. Ryei is
a more productive as well as a more
hardy plant than wheat, while it is less
liable to be injured by insects. 1t will
produce good crop upon poorer soil,
and one that has received less prepare
ton. Many tracts OF loose, sandy soil
will produce large crops of rye, on
which a paying crop of wheat, corn or
potatoes could not be grown. There
are many large tracts of sandy land in
the Western States, considered almost
vaueless, that will produce large and
excellent crops of rye. These tracts
could be purchased aud utilized by grow
Ling--rxe to most--axaallant- advaiiaga-
With very few exceptions rye is only
raised by small and poor farmers. A
large proportion of all the rye produced
in the country is raised on little patches
of from one to five acres in extent. We
have wheat fields extending over several
thousand acres, but it is an unusual
thing to find even quarter of section
of land in one body devoted to the grain
that is worth more than wheat A..
Other plants classed as cereals are OF
little or no value except for the grain
they produce. Their foliage and straw
are not of sufficient worth to take into
the account in estimating the value Of
the crop. In many parts of the.country
the straw of wheat, barley and oats i;
burned in the field. In other places
they are only used for feeding stock
The straw of rye, however, is very val
liable for large number of purposes
1t makes excellent paper stock. 1t form
the best material for thatch. 1t is supe
rior to any other kind of straw for use il
packing furniture, glass, and crockery
ware, for tying round nursery stock, fol-
filling beds, and for covering the tops o
= stacks. Next to flags that grow il
marshes and water courses it is the bes
material for bands for tying up bundle
of grain and corn stalks. When de
signed for this purpose the stalks SHOULD
: be cut at the season of blossoming. The,
are then strong and pliable, and band
made of them are easily applied to bun
dies. These bands will be readily eater
by stock of all kinds. Bands made o
rye straw, cut when the plant is in bios
som, are also useful for tying up crap
vines. If rye is harvested at this stag
in its growth the ground can be plowe,
!, up sufficiently early to admit of raising
l another crop on the same land. Rye
an excellent crop to raise for feeding Of
at those seasons of the year when gras
affords but little food. The seed ma
! be sown to excellent advantage betwee
! the rows of standing corn, and covere
i with the cultivator when the crop
worked for the last time. In favora
1 BILE season it will afford much food dun
r during the winter and early SPRING Ky
!, is also a very valuable crop to raise fC
| the purpose of blowing under with
view of fertilizng the soil. A heav
growth of it may often be raised on Ian
: that will produce but very little re
clover, which is generally raised for tn
J, purpose of blowing under. The see
e costs less and the period of growth
much shorter Chicago Times.