EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 621 



But, as indicated above this is a very small portion of the seed sold as Rosen, 

 as the commercial trade has assumed large proportions. The pedigreed seed, 

 however, is the only seed of guaranteed purity, and is therefore the basis 

 upon which this or other states must base opinion regarding the value of 

 Rosen rye. 



The figures on the two maps should be carefully studied not to be mis- 

 interpreted. In 1918 Illinois and Indiana were the largest purchasers of 

 pedigreed Rosen rye outside of Michigan, yet it is probable that Michigan 

 bought more pedigreed Rosen seed than all the other states combined. In 

 1919, Michigan farmers bought less pedigreed Rosen seed than certain other 

 states. The State of Washington bought almost twice as much pedigreed 

 Rosen seed as Michigan itself did. To explain these facts one must remem- 

 ber that pedigreed or high-grade Rosen is quite generally in the hands of 

 Michigan farmers. They are simply planting their own seed. It is only 

 the few who wish to replace their mixed seed with pedigreed that are now 

 buying the pedigreed seed in Michigan. 



Several states obtained the pedigreed seed in 1917 and 1918 as well as 

 1919 and should be growing quantities of pure Rosen rye for themselves. 

 A report comes from Minnesota, where a man purchased the pedigreed 

 Rosen seed from Michigan in 1918 and sold 3,000 bushels for seed in 1919. 

 Others can do likewise. It is the more distant states, where a smaller sup- 

 ply is available, that are purchasing increased amounts. 



At the International Grain and Hay Show given in connection with the 

 International Stock Show at Chicago in December 1919, Rosen rye took 

 first, second, fourth, fifth and in fact ten prizes out of the sixteen that were 

 offered, and in 1920 it took the first 22 prizes. 



THE PLACE FOR RYE. 



Rye does not belong on every farm. It should be avoided by the wheat 

 grower as it gets into the manure and requires a great deal of pulling to rid 

 the wheat fields of it. It is particularly adapted to large areas of light sandy 

 soil, and because of washing and leaching many of these soils should not be 

 permitted to go through the fall and winter without groA\'ing a crop of some 

 kind. Thus rye can be used to advantage on hundreds of Michigan farms 

 to follow crops of corn and beans. For this purpose it should be sown as 

 early as possible as the highest yields are obtained from September planting. 



In pre-Rosen days, rye was valuable mainly as a catch crop, and to sow 

 on lands that were not suited to wheat. Few people thought of putting 

 rye in as a regular crop, especially on the heavier soils. Rosen rye can be 

 considered a regular crop, to be studied and treated as such. In the region 

 around Parma in western Jackson county, Rosen r^^e has crowded out wheat, 

 as the farmers of that section say that it is more profitable than wheat as a 

 general crop. Each farmer needs to settle this matter for himself, but he 

 should not grow wheat and rj^e on the same farm. 



It should not be forgotten that profitable rye crops come from (1) the 

 use of fertiUzers such as manure, acid phosphate; (2) a thoroughly pre- 

 pared seed bed; (3) September or early October planting; (4) and the planting 

 of pedigreed or high grade Rosen seed. The crop should be planted under 

 the most favorable conditions, unless prevented by conditions beyond control. 



The best rate of seeding Rosen rj^e depends somewhat upon conditions. 

 In the Parma district, farmers recommend the use of three pecks per acre 

 of well cleaned seed, sown early, on a well prepared fertile seed bed. Those 

 who do not have as good conditions must sow more. At the College the 



