The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-08
THE PLACE OF RYE
 ON THE FARM
his Grain is Useful in Many Ways-Helps Fill Gaps in
 Farm Crop Schedules.

w HI LII
 Farm Crop Schedules.
 There are many excellent reasons for growing rye on the farm, ac- cording to specialists of the U. S. De- partment of Agriculture, even though in most localities it is less profitable as grain crop than wheat. Rye is hardier and can therefore be grown as a winter grain in cold, exposed places It will do we'll on sandy, poor or acid land. It may be sown later than wheat, thus fitting we'll into the farm schedule, especially when there is a rush of work in the fall. It is attacked by fewer insects and dis eases than wheat, produces more valuable straw, requires less fertilizer, and being earlier is better as for age crop In addition, in some sec tions. the production value per acre from rye actually exceeds that of wheat This was true in the five-year period from 1910 to 1914 in South Carolina, Alabama, Texas. Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota
 The production of rye in the United States is not evenly distribut-l ed, 80 per cent of the acreage being in the eastern half of the country. Of this most is in Minnesota and the States east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio rivers In the last few years, however. there has been D tendency toward the spread of rye culture to new regions The produc- ton in the whole United States is only } per cent of the worlds pro- duction- The largest rye crop pro- i- f1~n Tai Ua in 1915, when the yield was estimated to be over 4s.O00,0O0 bushels.
 4AdaptahIity Of Rye.
 Rye can be grown on almost any well-lrained soil in the eastern half of the United States One of it's hd- vantages is its adaptability. It can be used to fill gaps between other crops Sown early or late in the fall, l on land either rough or well-prepar- l ed, it can be depended upon to make | a good growth in almost every in stance, at the same time conserving fertility and preventing washing dur ing the winter It may be given the same fall and winter treatment what ever use is to be made of it, and the farmer need not decide until spring whether to pasture it, cut and feed it 1 green, blow it under, or harvest it as a straw and grain crop. Like all other grains rye is best grown in TO- tation.
 Soil Requirements.
 Although rye will grow on very poor soils, large yields can not be se- cured from soils not of good fertility. l The soil should not be exceedingly l rich, however, for grain production, l v,i@r forfi1izQ- should be used. Stable manure is the 1 best fertilizer. Some phosphate should be used also. Seed should be cleaned. They also should be tested carefully, as rye loses its germinating power more rap- idly than most other cereals. The rate of seeding should depend on the showing from the germination tests. | When intended for grain production sowings should be made about Sep 1 tember 1 in the northernmost parts of the country, and should range from this date to the latter part of Noyem- Der in the extreme South. Rye may be sown from to weeks later than wheat If the rye is to be used for pasture it should be sown from 2 weeks to a months earlier than when sown for grain crops. On fertile land the fall sowing may be later than on poor land. Spring rye may be sown as early as spring oats or as soon as the soil becomes warm and dry enough to be worked.
 Harvesting.
 Beginning in northern Florida | about the middle of May, rye ripens a day later for each Is miles to the north, generally a few days earlier than wheat. Like wheat, l it is cut ordinarily with a binder. In some sections, however, especially !, near large cities, there is remuner- ative demand for rye straw for use in bedding horses, wrapping nursery stock, stuffing horse collars, etc. Un- der such conditions if the straw is long it may be necessary to use self-rake reaper. When the straw is to be kept in good condition a special thresher also is used in many instances.
 Pests.
 The principal plant pest. of rye is wild onion or garlic. The onion bulb lets gre about the same size and shape as rye grains. and, reaching maturity at yhe same time, are often threshed | out with the grain. The presence of :, the onion bulblets reduces materially the price that may be secured for rye Land badly infested with onions should not be used for small grains. If such land must be used, the rye should be sown late, the land being pIowsd and prepared just before planting
 The diseases which may attack rye stem and leaf rust. flag, smut and ergot. The latter | is the most serious. It is dangerous to feed rye affected with ergot to live stock, Treatment of rye seed with formaldehyde, as for oats and will reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of most grain dis eases, Efgotized grains may be re- moved by passing the seed through ! a 20 per cent solution of common salt, the diseased grains floating while the normal grains sink.
 Copies of Farmers Bulletin 755, describing the culture of rye in the eastern half of the United States, re- cently issued by tha U, s. Department of Agsiguiturs, may bs secured free