186 SHEEP DISEASES: 



or £1 per ton, cheaper than maize, and is not very much higher in price than 

 straw is in some parts of the country. 



" No doubt this unprecedented cheapness of feeding barley will cause it to 

 be used largely in its unconverted state, either unground or ground into 

 meal, along with turnips and other food, but I prefer it when converted into 

 green malt, and for the benefit of those farmers who are inclined to follow 

 my example in this respect, I may say that the process of conversion is as 

 follows: — 



" The barley must first be steeped overhead in water (allowing it room to 

 swell) about forty-eight hours, and this can be done in any tank or large tub or 

 casks which may be available (the latter can also be bought of any cooper for a 

 few shillings each), into which a large plug-hole should be made at the side, as 

 near the bottom as possible, and over the inside of the plug-hole should be 

 fixed some perforated zinc (which can be got at any ironmonger's), so that 

 when the plug is taken out, the water may be drained off through the zinc 

 and plug-hole, and the barley left behind. It is a good plan to let the per- 

 forated zinc enclose a larger space than is occupied by the plug-hole, so as to 

 let the water drain to it more quickly. 



" When the barley has been steeped forty-eight hours, and the water drawn 

 off, place it thickly upon a floor, say 2 feet thick, and let it remain there 

 until some warmth is developed; it must then be thinned down to, say, 

 6 inches, and must be daily turned over until it strikes out its roots. As soon 

 as these have grown a little, and show signs of withering, they should be 

 sprinkled with a watering can, and the turning continued until the acrospire — 

 or what would be the stalk if the barley were planted — has forced its way 

 well up to the back of the barley under the skin. When this is accomplished, 

 the barley has been converted into green malt, and is at the stage of manufacture 

 which is of most value to the farmer for feeding purposes. The whole operation 

 from first wetting till ready for use will occupy from ten to twelve days. 



" As regards the tioor for growing the barley upon, a concrete one is the 

 best, but either brick or wood will do ; only, in the latter case, more moisture 

 will have to be added whilst the barley is upon it. A wooden floor may also 

 be cheaply covered with galvanised iron sheets, and is then even better than 

 a concrete floor. 



" It follows that the quantity steeped or wetted every forty-eight hours 

 should be calculated according to what is required for two days' consumption ; 

 and any farmer who may wish for fiu'ther information respecting the process 

 can, no doubt, obtain it from his nearest neighbouring maltster. 



" Mr W. J. Harris, of High Hampton, Devon, has lately contributed a 

 long article to the newspapers (of which a copy appeared in the Alark Lane 

 Express of August 22), giving calculations showing that the deficiency in 

 this year's crops of oats, hay, turnips, and straw amounts to 14,600,000 tons, 

 and this estimate is also concurred in by other authorities. Mr Harris 

 further calculates that this deficiency can be made up by using 12,000,000 

 qrs. of feeding barley, and it is certainly fortunate for us that this article is 

 at present cheaper than all other feeding corn, and that it can be bought at 

 as low a price as hay and undecorticated cotton-seed cakes. 



" In case a good liill of rain should now cause a sharp growth of succulent 

 grass, it will be found advantageous to give dry barley to stock to prevent 

 scour." 



In recommending the above materials I do not wish it to be 

 assumed that I underrate the value of other feeding stuffs, far 

 from it : all are good in their proper place and in proper 

 quantities. Maize, for instance, is rich in heat producing; 

 beans, peas and wheat, in flesh-forming matters ; and the three 



