THE COMMON CEREALS. 177 



early period at which the depasturing ought to begin. 

 There are some soils on which sowing grass seeds 

 may prove quite successful. 



Pasturing. Rye pasture is excellent for all 

 kinds of live stock. It is particularly helpful in pro- 

 ducing an abundant milk flow, before it reaches the 

 jointing stage. Live stock may be turned in upon 

 it in the autumn as soon as it has made a sufficient 

 growth to furnish a "good bite/' and likewise, also, 

 in the spring. Sheep may be put upon it earlier 

 than cattle, because of their greater ability to gather 

 food from short pastures. It should be kept so 

 closely grazed that it will not joint. As soon as it 

 joints to form the head, its power to produce much 

 pasture, and also good pasture, is gone. And when 

 not eaten until the jointing stage has been reached, 

 live stock will not then relish it because of the woody 

 character which it assumes. It should also be 

 remembered that when rye has been pastured for a 

 considerable period in the autumn, it is not likely to 

 produce so much pasture in the spring as it would 

 had it not been so pastured. Plants, like people, 

 exhaust their powers when they have done a certain 

 amount of work. 



More food would be obtained by dividing the 

 rye into two or more sections and alternating the 

 grazing. But this may seldom be practicable because 

 of the labor and expense involved. When sheep are 

 being pastured on rye, if they are given some, con- 

 centrated food at the same time, as, for instance, oil 

 cake or corn, both sheep and land will be much 

 improved. When cows in milk are being pastured 

 on rye, they should not be allowed to graze upon it 

 more than two or three hours per day, and only just 



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