St. Landry democrat., 1884-10-18
Late Fall Feed.


An enterprising farmer writes that,
on account of the light hav crop, he is
thinking of putting in barley to help out
the latter end of the season, and wishes
to learn all about the best methods of
raising it. We are glad to see an in
creaslng interest taken in this crop for
late feeding. Farmers have already
learned that by sowing winter rye in
autumn on good land, they can shorten
the winter season of feeding dry hay at
least three weeks, and that by sowing
wheat at the same time they can pro-
vide for another week or more of green
1eee3d,ing before the grass in the pastures
will give full supply.
Now when they learn to add another
period OF four weeks of green feeding at
the last end of the season they will have
practically heightened the summer
about two months and shortened the
winter at the same rate. Now barley
10 not as hardy to endure the winter
as rye, but if sown in August
it will hold green till the ground
freezes considerably. We nave re-
peatedly cut it when the weather was
too cold to work without mittens. Per
haps there is no bettersplace to sow late
barley than after crop Of early nota-
toes' the ground in which case would be
flne and mellow. Barley, like oats. or
other spring grain, delights in a rich
mellow soil, but sod land turned over
now and well pulverized without bring
ing back The inverted sods, NAV be
made suitable for the crop. If the
ground is rather lean, we would prefer
spreading liberal dressing of we'll
rotted stable manure, but if in fertile
condition moderate application of a
good fertilizer will answer the same
purpose. Whichever may be applied.
the land should be we'll worked over af-
ter the application to mix it thoroughly
with the surface soil. From two and a
half to three bushels of seed will give a
full crop, if other conditions are favor
able. The two rowed variety is better
for forage than the four or six rowed, as
the former grows taller and produces
more straw. Seed barley for late SOW
ing is now kept by many of our large
seed dealers, and it can be bought of
the grain merchants who handle it for
the brewers.
Another good way to raise late green
iced, is to mix barley and winter rye
together, about q bushel or bushel and
half of each, and sow early in August,
the earlier the better. The barley will
run up and head out, while the rye will
make great amount of soft-leaf
growth, that will be relished exceedingly
by cattle in October and November at
ter the pastures are gnawed bare. OF
course the land must be rich to produce
a heavy crop, and the heavier the crop
the more profitable and satisfactory it !:
will be. Cutting the crop this fall will !
not kill the rye-that will live over and !.
probably give a good crop of green feed .
or grain next spring These are meth !
DDS that we have practiced with much !:
success for several years. If it is desired i
to stock down to grass with fall barley, /,
one bushel of seed will be enough to /
sow to the acre. A very thick, heavy !
crop would shade the young grass and !
render it too tender to go safely through
the winter. We hope to see more fall
barley this season than ever before, for
it will all be needed. We hope too that
it will be well treated, that it may not
bring disappointment to those who try
it for the first time.-New England
Farmer.