The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-09-08
RYE FOR PASTURE.
How 1t Can Readily BE Made Profitable in
Many Ways.

How 1t Can Readily BE Made Profitable in
Many Ways.
When it can be done, and by proper
management it can nearly always be
possible, patch of rye, especially for
pasturing or early spring feeding,
should be seen on every farm. The
size or acreage should be gagged 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 as long as possible, and is
then turner under in the spring for q
crop of corn, while it can still be made
more valuable by allowing it to make
good start to grow. and when the
stock are turned into the pasture early
in the spring, cut them 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 be able
to secure any thing like a full supply.
A supply of rye cut and fed green will
aid materially in satisfying their wants
and IN securing q better start in the
pastures, On reasonably good soil il
makes rapid growth and very large
amount of feed can be secured on a
small plot. In order to secure a large
growth, either for pasturing during the
winter or early spring feeding, it should
be sown as early as possible in the fall.
If the weather is favorable, SO that the
seed will terminate readily, the 1st OF
September is none too early. have
found it a good plan to prepare the
ground ahead the same as for wheat, az
soon as possible after harvest, blowing
we'll and narrowing until the sur
face is in fine filth. It will pay to
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 l 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 speedy
termination of the seed. While, of
course, the seed may terminate 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 I pre-
fer to wait until we have sufficient
moisture to make the seed grow in as
short time as possible. When some
reasonably rich land is put in good filth
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. II
used for pasture it should be sown
reasonably thick. When sown for
grain three or four pecks will be suffi.
cient. Use common wheat drill and
try to have the soil in readiness so as to
SOW as early as possible in September.
If intended for pasture during the win.
ter rather than let grow and use for
cutting off and feeding early in the
spring, plat that's easily fenced should
be used; if intended to cut off it should
be sown as convenient to the stables as
possible. It is valuable for all kinds Of
stock, and will enable you to furnish
green food to your stock nearly month
earlier than if no rye is run, besides
standing winter grazing better than any
other kind or grass or grain. I Zee
like urging every farmer to run a patel
of rye in proportion to the number o
stock kept up on the farm, and believ,
it will pay fully as well IS any thipI
else on the farm u Shepherd, /;
Wsstsrn Plovn.a,,