BYE 53 



years has been seven tons per acre. The cost of 

 seeding and fertilizing has been five dollars and 

 fifty cents, making the crop one of the cheapest 

 of those used for soiling. 



In order that the best results may be obtained 

 from the use of rye as a green forage crop, har- 

 vesting should begin as soon as the plant begins 

 to head. At this period, the forage is very succu- 

 lent, palatable and highly digestible. In the first 

 feedings, smaller amounts should be used than are 

 sufficient to supply the entire needs of the animal. 

 If the plant is left until it is fully headed out 

 before beginning to cut, — at which period perhaps 

 the largest total amount of food would be obtained, 

 — the time during which the crop may be used is 

 very much shortened, and the usefulness of the 

 crop, either as a source of all of the succulent food 

 or as a supplement of pastures, is considerably 

 reduced. Under averaa'e conditions, when the 

 practice outlined here is followed, rye may serve 

 to supply the herd with a palatable food for ten to 

 twenty days, the period depending on the method 

 of seeding and the character of the season. 



If it is desirable to have a long period of feeding, 

 the crop should be seeded at different times. The 

 first seeding should be made in the middle states 

 in August, and the second as late as the middle of 

 September, or first of October. This later seeding 

 will make a much less vigorous growth in fall, will 



