The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-09-04
RYE FOR PASTURE.
How 1t Can Readily Bc Made Profitable in
Many Ways.

How 1t Can Readily Bc Made Prof table in
Many Ways.
When it can be done, and by proper
management it can nearly always be
possible, a patch of rye, especially for
pasturng or early spring feeding,
should be seen on every farm. The
size or acreage should be gaugcd by the
number of stock kept on the farm. For
winter pasturage it can readily be made
profitable, even for that purpose alone,
and is used rs long rs possible, and is
then turner under in the spring for a
crop of corn, while it can still be made
more valuable by allowing it to make
a good start to grow. and when the
stock are turned into the pasture early
in the spring, cut them II feed of rye
night and morning. Stock crave some
thing green very early in the spring,
and very often they are turned into the
pastures before they can possibly Ee able
to secure any thing like full supply.
A supply of rye cut and fed green Will
aid materially in satisfying their wants
and IN securing better start in the
pastures, On reasonably good soil it
makes rapid growth and very large
amount of feed can be secured on Il
small plot. In order to secure IL large
growth, either for pasturing during the
winter or earl ly spring fee ling. it should
be sown as early us possible in the fall.
If the weather is favorable, so that the
seed will germnate readily, the lst of
September is none too early. have
tn bn
ground ahead the same as for wheat, rs
soon as possible after harvest, plowing
we'll and narrowing until the sur
face is in fine tilth. 1t will pay 10
take some pains to make the surface
to the depth of three or four inches
as fine as possible, rolling, dragging or
narrowing, if necessary, to secure this.
While believe in reasonably early
seeding, and try to prepare the ground
so as to be able to do this, there is very
little gained by seeding when the soil is
not sufficiently moist to insure n speedy
termination of the seed. While, of
course, the seed may gcrminate even
after laying in the soil for some time
when the ground is too dry to induce
termination, yet there is so much risk
of loss that when it can be done l pre-
fer to wait until we have sufficient
moisture to make the seed grow in MS
short time as possible. When some
reasonably rich land is put in good tilth
before seeding, from one and half to
two bushels per acre should be used, de-
pending somewhat upon the time of
sowing and the fertility of the soil. If
used for pasture it should be sown
reasonably thick. When sown for
grain threa or four pecks viii bc sulf-
cient. Use common wheat drill and
try to have the soil in readiness so ms 10
sow as early as possible in September.
If intended for pasture during the win
ter rather than let grow and use for
cutting of and feed Ing early in the
spring, plat that is easily fenced should
be used; II intended to cut off il should
he sown as convenient to the stables as
possible. 1t is valuable for all kinds of
stock, and will enable you to furnish
green food to your stock nearly n month
earlier than If no rye is run, besides
standing winter grazing better than any
other kind or grass or grain. feel
like urging every farmer to run patch
of rye in proportion to the number OF
stock kept up on the farm, and believ.
u will pay fully rs well as any thing
else on the farm.-M j. Shepherd, III
Western PloWnlan.