CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 99 



other countries, and to a considerable extent in the New Eng- 

 land states, where it is generally combined with corn meal in 

 the fabrication of bread. 



There is but one kind of rye, but this, says the "Farmer's 

 Assistant," may be made either winter rye or spring rye, by 

 gradually habituating it to different times of sowing. Take 

 winter rye, for instance, and sow it later and later each fall, 

 and it may at length be sown in the spring and then it be- 

 comes spring rye. On the contrary, sow spring rye very late 

 in the fall, at first, and you may gradually sow it earlier each 

 succeeding year, until it may even be sown in May, and used 

 the first season for pasture, or mowing, and then grown to per- 

 fection the second year. 



Rye, with respect to its mode of cultivation, resembles 

 wheat; but it can be grown upon inferior soils, and requires, 

 as before observed, less culture, manure and attention. It is a 

 fit occasion here to observe, that this idea, having taken pos- 

 session of the minds of many farmers, and being followed out 

 in practice, will satisfactorily account for light crops. If good 

 crops of any grain are expected, they should receive proper 

 attention. This should be borne in mind. 



Soils of a sandy or gravelly texture are the most natural for 

 rye. Almost every kind of dry soil is more or less suited to 

 its growth. It will produce good crops on poor soils; and pro- 

 digious crops of it may be raised on such soils as are suitable 

 and made very rich. Rye raised on upland makes much better 

 flour than that raised on low or damp lands. 



Rye may be sown in autumn, or it may be sown in spring, 

 and this circumstance affects the habits of the ripening of the 

 plant. The winter rye is sown in autumn, generally at the 

 same time as wheat; but not later than in all the month of Oc- 

 tober, except in cases of emergency. The spring rye, with 

 oats, or as early in spring as the weather will allow. Rye 

 shoots into the ear sooner than wheat, and ripens earlier. It 

 stands drought better than wheat, but is more apt to suffer in- 

 juryfrom wetness. It is a hardier plant than wheat, and less 

 subject to the attacks of insects and diseases. Some farmers 

 find its culture profitable more so than other grains. 



The seed is generally sown in September, the quantity of 

 seed to the acre varying according to circumstances. Early 

 sown requires less seed to the acre. In Europe from two to 

 three bushels per acre are sown; in this country from thirty- 

 six to forty-eight quarts. It is not customary to steep it, but 

 this precaution can however do no harm, for it is not wholly 

 free from disease; and at all events grain should never be 



