Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-08-26
THE RYE CROP.
4 Claim That It Increases tho Fertility
OF the Land which Produces It.

OF the Land which Produces IL.
Farmers do not give this crop the
attention il deserves. As general
rule, it does not yield as much per
acre as wheat, and sells for two. thirds
to three-fourths as much per bushel.
The reason it does not yield as much
is because 1t is usually sown upon
ground too poor for wheat; but il
yields a tolerablc crop where wheat
would yield next to nothing. Many Of
the old Dutch farmers who have long
been in the habit Of raising 1t. assert
that rye crop taken of a piece of
ground, instead of taking from, adds
to the fertility Of the soil. They argue
that in seeding down with wheat. they
often fail to secure ''catch'' of grass;
but by plowing down the wheat stub
BILE to follow with crop of rye, and
seeding to grass with this. they inva-
riably secure a good "catch" OF grass,
rs well as a good crop of rye, and the
ground is in better condition than il
was before the rye was sown. Whether
there is any thing in this theory or not.
do not say, aud yet the practice OF
such farmers would seem TO confirm the
faith that is in them.
Rye sown upon ground rich enough
for wheat yields as much grain as
wheat, and nearly double as much
straw. Rye bread. when properly
baked, is very wholesome and nutri-
tious, and many people are very fond
OF it. Among the Dutch farmers in
the Eastern part of Pennsylvania, It
is mostly used rs chop TO make cut
feed for their horses, either pure or
mixed, and chopped with other grains.
The straw is run through cutting
box, and about half bushel OF this
cut straw wctted, and mixed with two
or three quarts Of rye Chop" fed TO
horse three times "a day, gives better
satisfaction and answers every purpose
of both oats and hay Especially is
this the best kind Of feed for a horse
troubled with huaves. A pint of boiled
rye fed twice a day is unsurpassed for
putting a horse in condition, also
calves and cattle that have become
hidc-bound.
Then for tying up corn-fodder. 1t is
almost impossible 10 get along W thout
rye straw. OF course the crop must be
thrashed out with ilail II the straw Is
intended to be used for this purpose.
As green crop 10 plow under lind
In il, perhaps, its greatest value. In
this country, buckwheat Is u standard
crop in our rotation. After the corn
is or sow rye Gas il will do to SOW il
quite late even on the snow, and not
harrow), TO be plowed under about the
middle Of June; pack II down tight
with a roller after II Is plowed, then
about June 20 SOW buckwheat This
comes of so the ground can be ready
TO be sowed 10 wheat about September
20. Then plow il again before SOW
ing wheat, aud roll; thus the rye that
has been turned under in June, (quite
furrOwfuD comes ON top, like well rot
ted manure, TO tOp-dress the wheat
BY fastening one end OF a log-chain to
the dOubletree, and the other end
around the beam Of the plow, letting
the chain drag in the furrow, every
stalk can be covered out OF sight; in
fact, IL makes II very pleasant work.
Last summer / faised one hundred and
twenty bushels Of buckwheat OFF three
and one-half acres, where rye had been
turned unCer In June. IL was all ripe
before September frost, aud buckwheat
was buckwheat.
II will make good pasture for the
calves this fall. and | expect II will
again next spring. may use part
OF II for soiling purposes, and turn
undor for buckwheat 10 be followed by
wheat
Some agricultural papers recommend
the sowing Of rye with view OF plow.
ing under for corn. do not hold very
much on that line. Unless II Is sowed
very early, II will not amount to very
much in time 10 plow under for corn,
and you can not get any suitable
ground for corn on which 10 SOW il
early, except sod after harvest T. that
sod were simply let alone. the grass
that would grow up and rot down 10
the fsll and grow up again In the
spring before blowing for corn. would
need far less work, and amount 10
more than the rye would by the time
TO plant for corn. as II Il after that
time rye makes It's most rapid growth.
Upon any other than sod ground, OF
course the benefit will be In propo .tlop
70 tho amount Of growth secured BY
the time u u plowed under Tor corn. :
10. Hslm..I A.. 49,.