PASTVRE OR FORAGE, AND SOILING CROPS 283 



Nebraska. It is quite resistant to drought and tramping, 

 furnishes an abundance of pasture both in the early spring 

 and in the late fall, and is very palatable. It is nearly 

 as valuable as bluegrass. 



Rye. — Fall-sown rye is sometime used for pasture. It 

 is hardy, grows on poor soils, comes early in the spring and, 

 under optimum conditions, may provide pasture both in 

 the fall and again in the spring. It is often possible to 

 obtain some kind of a crop after the rye, or clover and grass 

 seed may be sown in it in the spring. Rye should be pas- 

 tured closely in the spring as soon as growth has really 

 started. If it is pastured for only a short time, a good crop 

 of grain often may be harvested from it. Grain should be 

 fed with rye pasture, as it is very succulent and laxative. 

 Although it is not advisable to make a practice of sowing 

 rye for pasture, it is often profitable when other pasture is 

 scarce. 



It is especially good before the other pastures come in the 

 early spring for ewes and nursing lambs, and also for sows 

 and pigs. However, it will be noticed in the latter case 

 that any bluegrass in the fence rows will be eaten off clean 

 before the pigs will touch rye, showing that they much prefer 

 the bluegrass. Also, if sheep are allowed other pasture, they 

 will not go back to rye. It often is profitable, especially 

 when rye is badly lodged, to turn in hogs to harvest it when 

 ripe. If milch cows are pastured upon rye, it imparts a 

 bitter flavor to the milk which is quite offensive. Green 

 rye is often used for soiling. 



Oats alone are seldom used for pasture. However, as 

 has already been mentioned, oats and peas are often sown 

 together and used for pasture or soiling. 



