Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1880 — Spring Rye. [ARTICLE]

Spring Rye.

Spuing rye can be sown as early in the spring as the frost will permit; the earlier the better, since it is a grain which matures rapidly. Spring rye will not yield so large a crop, neither for grain nor soiling purposes, as may be secured from winter rye, though for soiling the former may be grown and cut before any other spring crop. We have known of farmers sowing winter rye in the spring, or so late in the fall as not to germinate until spring, but we recollect no instance where so good a crop was secured as when the grain made a good start in the fall. Spring rye cannot be obtained so early in the spring as winter rye, though the former will be ready to feed as soon as the latter is fed out or becomes too mature for profitable leeding. For plowing under spring rye is as good as winter rye, though of course it can only be done later in the season than would be the case if the winter rye were used. Spring rye comes into bloom about the Ist of June. For early soiling winter rye comes first, next spring rye and then barley. Spring rye matures very fast, and very hot weather injures its value for soiling. Last spring, on account of the hot, dry weather in May we almost lost our spring rye, as it became so hard before blossoming that the cows did not like it The spring was late and it was after the middle of April before we sowed it. We have now a piece of ground plowed and manured ready for spring rye, intending to sow the latter as early next season as possible.— American Cultivator.