The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-10-06
HARDWOOD ESSENTIAL
TO RYE IN This CLINE

The acreage seeded to winter rye this
fall in North Dakota will probably be
increased over the acreage seeded in
1920, says I. E., Stoa, assistant agrono-
INST at the North Dakota Agricultural
Experiment station, in discussing the
best variety Of rye to SOW in North Da-
kota. The light and disappointing
wheat crop, the early season, the re-
duced danger from grasshopper injury
and the comparatively favorable re-
suits from winter rye over other crops
this last year will encourage such an
increase where. the farmer is finan-
ciully abe to secure the seed.
Devoting portion of the farm acre
age to winter rye is good practice.
Rye aids in the control of weeds on
the farm and acts as a cleaning crop.
A portion of the acreage in rye dis
tributes the harvest labor. and lessons
The rush of work in the busiest sea-
son. Winter rye is comparatively
free from diseases and insect pests
and planting a hardy strain of winter
rye, reasonably assures fair yield of
grain at harvest time. ... /
What Rye Is Hardy?
Too many Of us fail to recognize
that varieties or strains of rye differ
in their hardness that is, in their abl-'
ity to survive our winters. There is,
however, Il considerable difference in
the hardness Of strains, which fact
should be acknowledged. This hardi-
ness cannot be recognized il" the
plumpness of the seed, or the attrac-
actual behavior under the rigor of our
climate must be proven.
The 1920-21 winter, as we easily re-
member, was very mild and most win
ter grain, including in many instances
winter wheat, came through in good
shape. It may not be amiss here to
caution that the fact that field Of rye
or wheat came through last winter is
no proof that its seed represents a
strain sufficiently hardy for our use.
1t is an insurance to grow only the
tried and hardest varieties.
f. For our conditions there is no var
iety yet available to us that compares
in hardness and ability to yield, to
years. Where N. D. No. $50 can be OBJ
This strain of rye has been selected
for it's hardness by the North Dakota
experiment station and has proven it's
adaptability over long series of
years. Where N. d. NJ $50 can be OBJ
tanned this should be used in prefer
ance to all others. AS second choice,
if n. d. No. $50 from a known source
cannot be obtained, rye which has
been grown in the community for a
few years and proven to be reasonably
hardy should be used.
The less hardy varieties such as
Rosen rye cannot be recommended for
our general use. There were many in
stances this past year where Rosen
rye did well. The winter of 192O-21,
however, did not bring out to the full
extent the lack of hardness in this
variety. BY actual count, Rosen rye
Michigan grown seed, grown on the ex-
pertinent station plats at Fargo, on fall
plowed land; winter killed to the ex-
tent of over so per cent. Seed from
North Dakota grown Rosen did slightly
better. ~,
Where protection for the rye is Of
fered, as when seeded in stubble, the
danger from winter killing in the less
hardy strains is lessened Standing
stubble is catch for snow which will
moderate the colder temperatures and
also reduce the thawing and freezing
which frequently takes place. in the
late winter 1t also makes for
greater amount of available moisture
to carry the crops through periods of
drought. The practice, Of course, also
has its objections. Unplowed land Of
fers protection to grasshopper eggs
which usually can be destroyed by fall
blowing. On heavy stubble land and
where weeds are abundant, it is diff
icult to make a seed bed, and such
field should be plowed
The side shows may be all right