OATS, BARLEY, AND RYE 143 



in the spring following the sowing of wheat but 

 before the oats are put in. After the seed is in, it 

 is well to run a fine-tooth harrow over the ground. 



Barley is an excellent nurse crop to start alfalfa 

 or clover because it does not grow very tall or leafy 

 and does not shut out the air and sunlight. Barley 

 does not require so much water as oats and so it 

 leaves more moisture for the grass. 



Enemies of Barley. Some enemies of barley are 

 rust, mildew, and smut. There seems to be no 

 remedy for rust or mildew but the smut is checked 

 by formaldehyde, one pint in twenty gallons of 

 water. This solution is placed in a barrel and sacks 

 of barley seed are soaked in it for ten minutes, then 

 emptied and spread on a threshing floor to dry 

 before sowing. 



Uses of Barley. In our country barley is used 

 mainly for feed for domestic animals and for malt- 

 ing. A small amount is eaten by man in the form 

 of pearl barley. In some places in the West it is 

 grown as hay and grain for horses. It makes good 

 feed for poultry and hogs and feeders are using it 

 more and more for this purpose. When used for 

 malt the malt-sprouts and brewers grain which are 

 left are used to feed cows and to fatten cattle. 



Rye. Rye is not a very important crop in Amer- 

 ica. It is used as food for both mankind and stock. 

 Sometimes the hay is used but oftener it is. plowed 

 under to enrich the soil. Rye straw makes good 

 bedding for horses. It grows taller than wheat, 



