192 RYE 



from which is often called Hack bread in contrast with the white 

 bread of wheat. So-called white rye is only lighter, but does not 

 make so white a bread as wheat. 



There are several varieties of winter rye (sown in the fall) and 

 corresponding varieties of spring rye. Spring rye is grown some in 

 Europe, but only rarely in the United States. 



Climate for Rye. Winter rye is much hardier than wheat, and 

 can be cultivated in regions having colder winters or drier and more 

 unfavorable winter weather. While it will grow throughout the 

 temperate zone, it seems naturally adapted to northern climates. 



Soils for Rye. While it responds to good soils, yet rye is such 

 a vigorous plant that it will produce a crop on poorer soils, or with 

 less preparation of the soil than other cereals. It is also well 

 adapted to light or sandy soils, and on such soils is often grown to 

 plow under as a green manure crop. 



Rye in Rotations. Owing to its adaptation to poor or sandy 

 soils, rye becomes a very important crop in the building up of such 

 soils. If sown in the fall, it makes a quick growth the following 

 spring and may be plowed under in May in time to plant some other 

 crop, as corn, potatoes, or buckwheat. It is used in this way on the 

 sandy potato and truck soils of the Atlantic Coast. A crop of pota- 

 toes or buckwheat can be harvested each year and a crop of rye can 

 be plowed under for manure. 



When rye follows corn it is often sown in the standing corn at the 

 last cultivation, or is drilled in later with a narrow drill. When rye 

 follows potatoes it may be sown while the potatoes are being dug, 

 and the soil leveled afterward, or the land is prepared after digging 

 and the rye is drilled in. The winter rye prevents erosion, and 

 also prevents the leaching of any soluble fertilizer or plant-food in 

 the soil. 



When rye and buckwheat are alternated, the rye may be sown 

 with the buckwheat about July first, sowing the buckwheat rather 

 thin (two or three pecks per acre). The buckwheat is harvested for 

 grain, while the young rye is allowed to grow and is plowed down the 

 following summer. This may be repeated year after year, gradually 

 improving the soil by the large addition of organic matter. 



