534 THE HOME, FARM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPEDIA. 



The lighter soils in early districts are, however, the best adapted to 

 the growth of the finer qualities of malting barley. It delights in a free 

 open soil, being a shallow-rooted plant and a rapid grower, It requires a 

 liberal supply of ready-prepared and easily assimilated manures within 

 its reach, and thus is well adapted to follow sheep on the lighter soils 

 On the heavier soils, it pays well for a liberal dressing of artificial 

 fertilisers. Superphosphate of lime, applied at the rate of 200 to 300 Ibs. 

 per acre at the seed time, is found to promote early ripening and pro- 

 ductiveness. 



It may be sown as soon as the ground is sufficiently dry in spring, on a 

 grass or clover lay, turned over the preceding fall ; or it may follow a 

 well manured and cleanly hoed crop. If sown on a sod it should be 

 lightly ploughed in, but not so deep as to disturb it, and afterwards- 

 harrowed or rolled. The soil should always be well pulverized. From 

 two to three bushels per acre is the usual allowance of seed, poor and 

 mellow soils, and early sown, requiring the least. 



OATS. In this country oats are sown at the rate of two to four bushels 

 per acre during all the spring months, and sometimes, though rarely, in 

 June. The seed should be well harrowed in and rolled, and no after 

 attention is required except to destroy the prominent weeds. 



Oats are better to be cut before they are fully ripe. When left till 

 ripe the crop is very liable to be shed by a high wind. The straw of 

 oats is far better fodder than that of wheat or barley, especially when 

 they are early cut ; indeed, sometimes the straw is almost as good as 

 hay. 



RYE is the hardiest grain cultivated, growing better than any other on 

 the poorest sandy soils. It was once extensively grown in English 

 agriculture, but its cultivation, except for use cut down green as forage,, 

 has much declined, though it is still largely grown in the Northern and 

 Western States and Canada. 



It may be grown on dry, poor and sandy soils, that will grow no other 

 crop ; and yet a rich sandy loam is most suitable. 



It is sown in autumn at the rate of one to two bushels an acre the 

 smaller quantity when intended to stand as a seed crop, and the larger 

 quantity when intended for early green food in spring. 



The cultivation and harvesting of the rye crop is similar to that of 

 wheat. When grown for forage it may be sown as early as August. 



