142 ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE 



Uses of Oats. Oats are used in the main as feed 

 for horses for they are nearly a balanced ration in 

 themselves." They are also fed in large quantities 

 to sheep and cattle. The Scotch are very fond of 

 oatmeal and it is being used more and more on our' 

 tables. For making rolled oats and oatmeal the 

 plump and heavy grain is preferred, but the hulls 

 must be thin: 



Barley. Barley is grown in many parts of the 

 world for its grain and for pasture. The grain is used 

 as feed for live stock and in making malt for beer. 

 Years ago barley was used in Europe and Asia for 

 bread until wheat gradually took its place. Barley 

 thrives best on well cultivated land because its 

 roots are shorter than wheat or oats and it needs 

 a well-preserved soil. A rich clay loam is best 

 suited to this crop for it will not grow well on land 

 that is soggy. 



Rotation and Seed Bed. A good rotation for 

 barley is corn, barley, clover, and timothy. Barley 

 does well on land that has grown potatoes, beets 

 or garden truck the year before. For this crop it 

 is best to plow the land in the fall, disc it in the 

 spring, and put it in good tilth as early as possible. 

 If the ground is then full of lumps and clods a 

 roller, or planker, should be used to crush the 

 lumps, followed by a fine-tooth harrow to finish the 

 preparation. 



Barley is drilled or sown with a broad-cast seeder 

 about six to ten pecks per acre. It is usually sown 



