The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-10


afford sufficient feed all winter 10 keep sheep
in good condition. The rye crop perhaps is
short, and seed will be high; but it is likely
that feed of all kinds will be up in accord
auce, which makes it that much moro need
full TO SOW a field 10 rye to help out. Now
that the future prospect for feed IS unprom-
ising the farmer viii have 10 either sell his
stock, perhaps at a considerable sacrifice,
or hold over the winter on hlgher-priced
feed, and in this case good field Of rye
will be found quite an auxiliary.
The time of sowing rye depends somewhat
upon the quality OF the soil. Thin soils res
quire earlier seeding than rich ones. The
crop may be sown on good land IN Septem-
Der and on rich land any time during the
month of October. have known farmers
to sow rye in their corn fields at the last
blowing, claiming that to SOW at this time
has several advantages, as 1t gives the grain
an early start and a moist, sheltered posi-
ton at a time when drouth and hot sun
would check and prevent vegetation. When
sown in this way the corn should be. as
soon as sufficiently matured, cut and placed
in compact shocks, aud as soon as cured re-
moved from the field, and the rye pastured
as early as possible to prevent Its becoming
jointed, 80 that the crop will not fall down
and become sour at the joints. However, it
is too late to sow IN this way now. AL
though rye is not as exacting as other crops,
and will do fairly we'll on poor land and I'M
der sorry conditions, yet it is not point of
good management to sow it IN such a way.
Sow on good and well prepared land aud it
will respond as literally as wheat or any
other grain.
The practice of sowing rye for pasture has
not received the attention from the mass of
farmers it deserves, and now that crops are
being cut short and fall pastures are drying
up in many sections, it seems that it de-
than NVbar.
ever farmers have tried rye for pasture they
are highly pleased with IL and cannot speak
too much in its praise Now the complaint
is from many farmers that their cows are
failing in milk. Rye makes good pasture
for mich COWS, and when pastured upon 1t
late IN the season. both the quantity and the
quality OF the milk will be improved. IL is
also said that rye pasture is particularly
valuable where stock is being fattened on
corn. After pasturing rye until May l, 1t
should be allowed to head out and hogs adj
mitted into the field until they have eaten
all the grain. This, followed by feeding a
short time upon green corn on the stalk and
then upon that which is matured, puts them
in prime condition for market.
know that there are objections made to
rye as a pasture, that it is injurious To stock,
etc. have pastured 1t and have seen no
bad effects from it. One OF my neighbors
who sows more rye than any other in the
| vicinity says it is such valuable pasture
that he could not get along without it, and
| he has seen no bad effects on his stock from
pasturing it, The difficulty Is due more TO
| improper management than to any injuri-
| GUS substance contained In the crop. When
| stock have been deprived Of roots or any
green food and confined to dry diet they
are liable to eat too much OF the green rye
! when turned upon it. By allowing the
| stock but short periods upon the rye field in
| the beginning and gradually extending the
time daily but little injury will be done;
| but if the stock receives no care and the
| rye field is given up to 1t the result will be
| diarrhoea and debility.
Rye not only makes good pasture but it
is the clover of poor, sandy soils. IL thrives
and fiourishes where other grain crops would
| perish but does best on good land or such
as has been fortified. II sown in the fall
and plowed under in the spring and slight
application of lime given the soil it will
furnish material for the formation of hu-
mus and will largely increase the yield of
corn which may follow it; but if the soil is
poor, it is best to follow it with buokwheat,
which may in turn be plowed under. Rye
may then be sowed again, and if it be
plowed under in the spring the land will
gradually increase in fertility.