SMALL GRAINS 



159 



fairly well on poor soils, but the rich loams are better for the 

 crop. When the crop is wanted for grain and for straw the 

 methods of culture are practically the same as for wheat. 



Rye is often sown in summer to serve as a winter cover 

 crop, and the green growth is plowed under in spring to serve 

 as green manure in the improvement of soils. 



FIG. 85. A good way to tie up small grains and grasses for exhibits. No. 2 had 

 no fertilizer, No. 3 had poorly kept manure, 4 fresh manure, 8 nitrate of soda. 



Flax. This crop is grown hi the northern States and in 

 Canada chiefly for its seed. In the Old World, and somewhat 

 in America, it is also grown for its fibre. The smooth, brown 

 seeds furnish two products: linseed oil is used in painting 

 because it dries so well; after the oil is extracted by pressure 

 the remainder is ground into meal for use hi feeding livestock. 

 Linseed meal is rich hi protein and is highly prized for feeding 

 calves. It often forms a part of many stock feeds. 



Flax has been grown for many centuries for the fibre 



