Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-02-08
wheat Y''S. RYE. R I
las. McPhail Tells How to Es.
cape the Result Of the
Past Bad Crops.
THE ROAD 10 FORTUNE.
Necessity Of a Diversity in the
Farmers Efforts-Better
Than AZ Cent Wheat

Editor COURIER -DEMocRAT;- ..
Having received numerous en-
quiries from persons in this county,
and by letters from other parts of
North Dakota regarding rye; my
success in growing 1t in Cavalier
county; my opinion as to its adapt
ability to soil and climate; what its
weld has been; it uses and its market
value.
have concluded, with your per-
mission, to answer these enquiries
through your columns. And to do
SO think it necessary to first say
something of the origin of rye, or
the foreign localities where it Is
cultivated. Though its origin,
like that of other cereals, is some
what doubtful, it is said to be found
wild near the Caspian Sea. 1t is
much cultivated in the north of
Europe and grows and natures in
regions too cold for wheat. Its
ripening can be depended on in
colder regions than any other grain.
There are several varities of rye, but
as my experience SO far has been
with the spring and winter, or fall
rye, prefer to write of them. Re
garding winter rye, would say that
| have tried it for two seasons, but
do not consider that I have yet
given it a fair trial, as each season
it was sown too late in the fall to
get sufficient start before winter.
My idea is that 1T should be sown in
July, it would then make excellent
fall pasture, and if it survived the
winter, which from my experience
think it will, produce crop of
grain the following summer. Sown
about October LIST, with me it pro-
duced from 10 to Is bushels per
acre of fine grain. Regarding spring
rye, with which I have had
more experience, or rather better
results, this can be sown as early as
wheat, or as it natures much quicker
can be sown May Goth, and yet
mature. In 1892 my rye was cut
eighty.two days after sowing and
in 1893 about 80 days and produced
in 1892, although sown too thin,
about 20 bushels per acre, and in
1893, with more liberal seeding
about 35 bushels per acre. My
opinion from the experience 1 have
had is that it is well adapted to our
climate, belng.a very quick grower,
taxing very little longer to mature
than barley and in case Of hot winds
not nearly as liable to injury, owing
think, to the amount of sap in the
straw, which will remain green and
fresh after the grain is fully matured.
AS to soil, while we find thatrye is
cultivated on land to sandy, or i'm
proverished to successfully produce
any other crop, yet find, like other
grain, it does best on good rich land
and can be sown on summer-fallew
with perfect safety, as owing to its
stiff straw there is very little danger
Of lodging.
Regarding its uses-rye -four is
largely used in parts Of Europe, and
to a limited extent in some parts of
America, for bread. It is Of dark
color, but by no means unpleas-
snt to taste, tits also largely used
1or fermentation and distillation-
which latter fact, by the way, need
not meet with objection from the
most fastldious prohibitionist, a.
.ne product is about as largely used
IN the arts and and sciences az for
purpose of beverage. 1t is also one
o' the strongest of feed grains. 1t
's relished by horses and cattle and
produces fat very readily, for milk
ing COWS there is nothing better, but
"elng very strong fcedit should be