MIDSUMMER RYE 513 



being perennial instead of annual, and in the possession ol 

 shorter ears and smaller grains. 



On the continent, especially in Germany, Russia, Norway, 

 Sweden, and Denmark, rye forms the principal bread-corn, the 

 flour of which is made into black-bread. In this country its use 

 as a bread-corn is very limited ; it is, however, extensively grown 

 as green fodder for sheep and cows, for use in early spring and 

 summer, and is also cut green for ' soiling ' horses in the stable. 



When grown for corn the straw, which is longer than that of 

 wheat, is practically useless for fodder, but on account of its stiff, 

 tough character it is well adapted for thatching and litter. 



No well-marked races of rye are met with, and the number of 

 constant varieties is small. The latter are characterised only by 

 differences irr yield, tillering power, and hardiness, their morphor 

 logical peculiarities being so slight that they furnish no certain 

 means of distinguishing one variety from another. 



The commonest and most useful varieties are those of hardy 

 constitution, termed Winter Ryes ; in contrast with these are a 

 few Summer Byes, which are earlier, less productive, and sown 

 in spring. 



One small-grained variety known as St Jolin's Day or Mid- 

 summer Eye, possesses extraordinary tillering power, and appears 

 to be' somewhat more nearly allied to the wild species Secale 

 montanum Guss., than the ordinary forms. It is usually sown at 

 the end of June or beginning of July, and may be fed off with 

 sheep or cut green in the autumn and following spring, after 

 which, if left, it will frequently give a good yield of grain. 



Climate and Soil. — Rye is one of the hardiest of cereals, 

 and is capable of withstanding the severe frost of a continental 

 winter. 



It grows well upon almost all light soils, but especially so upon 

 such as are sandy ; stiff clays and damp soils rich in humus are 

 unsuited to its requirements. 



Sowing. — For corn production the winter rye is drilled at the 



2 K 



