CHAPTER III 



RYE AND BARLEY 



Rye and barley are not more closely related than the 

 other small grains treated in this book, but they are 

 thrown together in one chapter because they are relatively 

 unimportant in the South. Rye is a cool-season crop, 

 whereas north of the cotton-belt barley is a warm-season 

 crop. Both are member.s of the grass family (Graminece). 



I. EYE — SECALE CEREALE 



Rye is an annual winter-growng grain. The acreage in 

 the South is very small compared with that of oats or wheat. 

 The chief use of rj'e in the South is for pasturage and for 

 soiling (that is, to be used as cut green food). 



Other uses of various parts of the plant are the following : 

 The gTain is used in the manufacture of alcoholic liquors ; 

 it is utilized to a small extent in this country for human food 

 and as a food for live-stock. The straw commands a higher 

 price than that of any of the other small grains. Its prin- 

 cipal use is for bedding ; for the manufacture of horse 

 collars ; and as packing .material. ]\Iost of the rye gi-ain 

 threshed in the Southern States is used as seed for the 

 succectling crop. The rye plant makes hay of very poor 

 quality. 



68. Description. — The grain of r>T, like that of wheat, has 

 no adhering hull after it has passed tiirough the thresher. 



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