On a variety of Rye as Green Fodder. 
181 
the soil to the finest possible degree of pulverization. After the 
last j)loughing 1 harrow the land before depositing the seed ; and 
about the middle of September or early in October, I sow 3 
bushels of seed per acre, which is harrowed in lightly, and the 
land left without rolling, unless with a very light roller between 
the harrowings. If the rye is very forward (which, from having 
a mild autumn, is sometimes the case), it will, in the event of a 
heavy fall of snow succeeding, be sometimes greatly injured for 
spring use ; but it must on no account be fed off with sheep, as it 
never comes well to the scythe afterwards. A portion should be 
manured for the first cutting, to enable its being used a week or 
ten days earlier. When ready for use, which in ordinary seasons 
takes place at the commencement of the month of April, it is 
carefully mown, and cut by a chaff- cutting machine, with the 
addition of a moiety of straw and hay, the proportion of the former 
being as four to one of the latter ; and the cutting should so pro- 
ceed that it may be adapted to the consumption of each day, using 
it as soon after being cut as possible. The chaff-boxes used by 
me are of the common sort, having an adjustment, invented by 
Dyball of North Walsham, lor feeding without assistance of the 
person using them. The cost of cutting is from \Ad. to 15c?. per 
60 bushels, and a man cuts from 100 to 120 bushels per diem. 
The horses are fed in the stable with oats, in addition, and in the 
yards at night with cut chaff only. The cows and neat stock are 
fed with the addition of oil-cake, broken fine, or not, as may be 
requisite, and no portion whatever is allowed to be wasted ; for 
by supplying it from time to time as required, every particle will 
be eaten. As the rye advances into ear, less straw and hay are 
then used ; and of every 100 bushels added at the present time, 
56 lbs. of hay and 72 lbs. of wheat-straw are the proportion, some 
lares being grown in conjunction with the rye. 
I know of no other food for early spring use, as a substitute for 
hay, equal to this, nor of any other system whereby so large an 
amount of excellent food can be procured from a small quantity 
of land ; and in point of economy, those who have not adopted 
the system have not the slightest conception. During this 
spring in particular I have found it of most decided advantage ; 
and at the high price of hay at the present moment I estimate that 
every acre of rye, thus produced, has been worth at least 8/. ; and 
when it is considered that it is obtained with scarcely any injury 
to the land whatever (turnips succeeding as well after it as can be 
desired), I am induced to make this communication, in the hope that 
through your endeavours to promote the interests of the British 
agriculturist it may become known and more generally adopted 
in other districts. 
I shall be very glad to forward you a small quantity of my seed 
