220 _ FIELD CROPS 



nesota, 18.9 bushels to the acre, and Iowa, 18.4 bushels. The 

 highest value to the acre is reported from the New England 

 states, and the lowest from the South. The value of an 

 acre of rye in Wisconsin is $18.97, and in Michigan, $16.12. 

 278. Growing the Crop. Rye will grow on rather poorer 

 soils than the other cereals, and is frequently planted on 

 land which is low in fertility or which is not in good condi- 

 tion to produce crops, such as that which is just being brought 



WIS. m^mmai^^mmmmmmmmmmm^am 15.2% 



MICH. ma^^ma^mmmamBmmmBmmm 13.2% 



PENN. ^aaammm^m^^mi^mmm^mi 12.3% 



MINN. ^■^^^■■■■■^^■^■■liM 11.1% 



N. T. {^^■BBH^^IH 6.1% 



N. DAK. wm^^i^m^m 5.8% 

 NEBR. tmmm^ammm 4.6% 



INDIANA 



S. DAK. 



N. J. 



All Others HHBHani^HBHII^Hi^Hi^l^BJ^^H^HiHBIHH^IH 20.9% 



Figure 82. — Graph showing the percentage of the rye crop of the United States an- 

 nually produced in the ten states of largest production, 1908-1917. 



into cultivation. Materially increased yields are obtained by 

 growing this crop on good soil and in a well-prepared seed 

 ])ed. The best yields are obtained from loam soils which 

 are quite fertile. The seed bed for winter rye should be pre- 

 pared by plowing some time previous to sowing, as early 

 as August 1, if it is possible to remove the previous crop by 

 that time. The land should then be disked and harrowed 

 to make it fine and mellow, and to prevent drying out. It 

 should be harrowed often enough during the interval between 

 i:)lowing and seeding to prevent the growth of weeds. Sow- 

 ing with the grain drill is preferable to broadcast seeding. 

 The usual rate of seeding is from 5 to 6 pecks to the acre, 

 though as much as 8 pecks may be sown when winter pasture 

 is desired. 



The time of seeding depends on the locality and the use 

 which is to be made of the crop. If intended for fall pasture, 

 the seed may be sown early in August in the Northern states, 



