138 Soiling. 



The land plowed early in the spring for oats, and 

 peas, and corn, and sorghum, should all be sown to 

 rye the fall before, and top-dressed during the win- 

 ter. It is much better that the soil should be bear- 

 ing a crop, even if very late sown, so late that 

 it does not even come up, than to remain fallow all 

 winter, especially where the practice is to top-dress 

 in the winter, which method has given me the best 

 results of any, so far as the application of barnyard 

 manure is concerned. Sow two bushels per acre. 



Wheat. 



In some respects wheat is a better soiling crop 

 than rye. It may be fed longer, that is to say, when 

 it is more mature than rye. Rye is fit to cut 

 earlier, therefore has that advantage, as well as the 

 other good qualities already mentioned. But its 

 fault, its only fault, I might say, is that soon after 

 heading it becomes tough. An acre of wheat sown 

 early to follow rye is a most excellent practice, and 

 will come in handy between rye and oats and peas. 



The beardless varieties are preferable. Sow two 

 bushels per acre. 



Barley. 



Barley makes a most excellent soiling crop, and 

 in a cold backward spring had better be put in for the 

 first spring sowing with peas, as it will stand more 

 cold and grow at a lower temp'erature than oats. 



Barley as a soiling crop is well relished by cattle. 



