90 FALLOWING. 



ble than is ;^eneraUy supposed. The expense of culti- 

 vating wheat, is thouj^ht to be only about half that of 

 Indian corn. Is it not unaccoimtable then, when all 

 these things are considered, that our farmers should ne- 

 glect this valuable crop so much ? We hope they will 

 be induced to enter upon its culture with spirit. 



For interesting particulars respeciing its cultivation, see 

 Massachusetts Agricultural Repository^ vol. 4, 5, and 6 — 

 Plough Boij^ vol. \,p. 122,228, 229, 371. 



RYE. 



There is but one kind of rye , but this may be made 

 either winter-rye, or spring-rye, by gradually habituat- 

 ing 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-r3'e 

 Tery 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 perfection the second 

 year. 



Soils of a sandy or gravelly texture, are the most na- 

 tural for rye. Weak land will produce it, and it does 

 not exhaust the soil so much as other grain. These 

 circumstances render it peculiarly precious to poor soils, 

 and poor people — to mountains of great elevation and to 

 high northern latitudes. 



A small quantity of dung or mud, about half the quan- 

 tity used for other grain lands, will, if laid upon rye 

 ground, greatly increase the value of the crop. 



Rye is subject to rust, but seldom to smut. If affect- 

 ed with rust, the same management must be used as for 

 wheat. The seed should be carefully selected, and 

 thoroughly washed in lime-water, as the means best 

 calculated to prevent the ergot ; a disease to which it 

 is most liable, and which is supposed to be an effect of 

 too great humidity. 



The quantity of winter rye usually sown, is about a 

 bushel, if sown early ; of spring-rye, a bushel and a 

 half or more. If the grain is small, less is required. 

 The seed should undergo the same preparation as 

 wheat. 



