178 THE EYE CROP. 



subsequently brings its grain crop to harvest, give it a 

 higher value to the occupiers of poor light soils than is 

 generally conceded to it. The grain crop, satisfactory 

 though it may be in the districts where rye is grown, 

 would amply repay a little more attention on the part 

 of the farmer. At present the average grain-produce is 

 small about 3 to 4 quarters per acre ; the weight from 

 50 to 56 Ibs. per bushel. The straw, however, in some 

 places is an important item in the produce of the crop. 

 Its toughness and length render it valuable for many pur- 

 poses. The longest and best is used by collar-makers, and as 

 much as 5 per ton is not an unusual price for it. It has 

 also been used successfully 1 in the manufacture of straw- 

 plait, in imitation of the Leghorn plait, and very high 

 prices paid for selected portions. For brickmaking pur- 

 poses there is always a large demand for it the price being 

 determined, of course, by the relative demand and supply, 

 but always being considerably in excess of other straw. 

 Some years it has amounted to 5 per load (36 trusses of 

 36 Ibs. each); in general it fetches from 80s. to 50s. per load. 

 For fodder, rye-straw is less valued than either wheat 

 or barley straw, not so much on account of its real nutri- 

 tive value, which differs but slightly from them, but 

 because its toughness and rigidity make it less palatable 

 to the cattle, and less easily digested by them. For litter 

 purposes, however, it is the best of all, and is readily sold 

 at a good price in the vicinity of large cities for stable 

 use. Owing to its greater length, it is a good plan to cut 

 the truss- or bundle in half with a hay-knife this gives a 

 more neat and tidy appearance to the stable, greatly eco- 

 nomizes the litter, and makes better dung. 



The cultivation of rye in this country is so limited 

 that we have not had the opportunities of studying its 

 diseases to anything like the same extent as has been 



1 High. Soc. Trans., vol. vii. p. 286. 



