THE CROPS or THE FARM. 493 



13. Comparative freedom from disease whether animal or vegetable. 

 14. To tiller, or stool, well that is, to produce five or more perfect 

 plants from one seed, under good management. 



15. To have sufficient strength of straw to carry the head. 



16. The straw to be of good quality as regards freedom from pith. 



BARLEY (Hordeum distich-urn) 



Is a grain of extensive cultivation and great value. Like wheat an 1 . 

 it is both a winter and spring grain, though in this country it is almost 

 universally sown in the spring. There are six varieties, differing in nc* 

 essential points and all originating from the same source. Loudon says r 

 in choosing for seed, " the best is that which is free from blackness at 

 the tail, and is of a pale lively yellow, intermixed with a bright whitish 

 cast; and if the rind be a little shrivelled so much the better, as it 

 indicates a thin skin. The husk of thick-rinded barley is too stiff to- 

 shrink, and will lie smooth and hollow even when the flour is shrunk 

 within." 



The principal varieties are the two and six rowed ; the former being 



preferred for hardiness and productiveness in Europe, and the last 



rally cultivated in this country for the superior fulness, and freedom 



from smut. There are numerous sub-varieties. New varieties may be- 



produced by crossing as with wheat. 



OATS (Avena sativd). 



This important grain is peculiarly adapted for temperate climates ; an-f 

 r_? a hardy plant, it is better suited for poor soils and cold climates 

 i either wheat or barley, and is consequently more easily cultiva- 

 ble soils are well adapted for oats ; but they arc also grown on stiff 

 s, as well as on both peaty and gravelly soils, and, in fact upon all 

 riptions of ground. P6 a L^TOSS feeding plant, ami in tlii^ 



rhara<-t. -ri-tic fchey fX.-.-..,l wheat and barley, requiring a larger amount of 

 than either. Hut a wet and cold summer, unit ss with tin- 

 l'aIs to an untiim-ly reaping time and a- d< -lic'ient 



liars ridenced prominently in Ontario during iss:). Oats tin! 



where a large quantity taM.- matter is present in a state of 



M, an 1 i . generally taken as a lh>t <-r.>p on nr 



.imed land ; OD such Boils, inderd, the l-^t crops are i;ro\vn Imtli in 

 oct to quantity and quality. Oats do not degenerate so rapidly as 

 ii-ht Ian-Is a change of seed is adva; Ifl every 



e or four years. 



