l6o FARM CROPS 



planting time. If planted when the ground is cold 

 the grain may rot or make an otherwise poor start. 

 During the first four or five weeks the growth is 

 slow and the plant not so vigorous as ordinary 

 corn. When the crop is matured the grain should 

 not be taken from the stalks until fairly well dried. 

 The custom is then to cut the tops or heads from 

 the stalks and to let them thoroughly dry out in the 

 field or barn. They are then threshed and stored. 



The grain heats when stored in large quantities 

 and for this reason often the germinating power is 

 destroyed. Care must be taken in this respect to 

 secure the next year's seed. Poor seed more fre- 

 quently results from the way the grain is handled 

 after threshing than from other reasons. In cul- 

 tivating do just as is the custom with corn. List- 

 ing or level planting may be practiced. It all 

 depends upon the locality and the soil conditions. 

 Usually three to four months are required to mature 

 the crop. When both grain and fodder are desired 

 the corn harvester may be used for cutting, and 

 shocking may be done in order to cure the stalks 

 and grain. For general feeding during the winter 

 time the shocks containing the grain can be hauled 

 direct to the feed lot. The best results will be ob- 

 tained, however, by threshing and grinding the 

 grain. 



KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS.— This grass does 

 best on a rich, rather moist soil. On dry, gravelly 

 soil it will start very well if sowed in the fall or 

 early spring, but the hot, dry weather of summer 

 will arrest its growth and it will make very little 

 pasturage from July to September. In many 

 places it comes up and maintains itself without 

 sowing seed. When grown on a soil which suits, 



