410 CEREALS. 



then plowed in with the last plowing. By the time the 

 corn is gathered, there will be as rich a pasture as may be 

 desired. 



Rye has been exported but little, the home consumption 

 being about equal to its production. It forms an important 

 article of diet in Europe and Asia, being mixed with both 

 wheat and barley to make cheap bread. It is supposed to 

 be a native of Oandia, and some say of Sicily, as it grows 

 wild on both of these islands. But it is more probable it hud 

 its origin, with other cereals, on the slopes of the Himalaya 

 mountains in Asia. It was introduced into Europe after 

 the 15th century, and was brought to America at the 'same 

 time with the other grains. Its straw is almost worthless 

 as a fodder, stock not relishing it at all ; but it is exten- 

 sively used in the manufactures, as hats, bonnets, mats, 

 paper, slippers, and a great variety of other articles are 

 made from it. 



In 1840, the product of the United States was 18,645,567 

 bushels, and in 1850, it was 14,188,813 bushels; in 1860, 

 21,101,380 bushels; in 1870, 16,918,795 bushels. 



In 1876, there were 355,000 bushels raised in Tennessee, 

 on 39,444 acres of land, being an average of 9 bushels per 

 acre, and the average price that year was 92 cents per 

 bushel. In the United States the same year, there were 

 20,374,800 bushels, thus giving an increase, in thirty-six 

 years, of less than two million bushels, although the culti- 

 vated area of the United States has almost doubled, if not 

 quite. This deficiency may be attributed to the falling off 

 in the demand for distilling purposes. Although so little 

 rye is exported, a considerable quantity of rye meal is taken 

 to Europe. 



See comparative analysis, on page 336, (under Buck- 

 wheat) . 



