156 THE CHIEF SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL CROPS 



turage they afford as for the grain. Oats have been 

 quite widely recommended as forming a part in a 

 well-considered rotation for the upland cotton farmer. 

 The rotation generally suggested is cotton followed 

 by corn with cowpeas between the rows ; these are 

 plowed under in the fall and the land is immediately 

 seeded to oats. After the oats are harvested cow- 

 peas are again planted, to be followed by the cotton 

 the next spring. The variety known as Texas rust- 

 proof oats is most widely planted at the South, and 

 the turf or grazing oat is also popular. 



Rye (Secale cereale Linn.) 



Eye is considerably sown at the South for winter 

 grazing, for winter cover crops in orchards, and 

 other similar purposes. Best results are usually ob- 

 tained with home-grown seed. There are certain 

 strains which have been long grown in the South 

 that give better results than Northern seed. In 

 Cuba much better results were had with Florida seed 

 than with that grown even as far north as Georgia. 

 Rye is a crop of minor importance at the South, and 

 should perhaps be included among the forages rather 

 than the grains. The practice of planting it for a 

 winter cover is to be commended, since it is quite 

 effective in preserving the soil from the damage 

 caused by the heavy rains. When plowed under in 

 the spring, it rots quickly and serves to add a cer- 

 tain amount of much-needed humus to the soil. 



Millets and Sorghums 



A number of kinds of millets are widely grown as 

 subsidiary crops in the Southern states. They also 



