56 Cultivation of Arable Land* Barley. After-Culture of. 



den contained ? If fo, and the fact is very eafily afcertained, the maltfter is no 

 fo much at the mercy of the feafons as Mr. Kerrich would lead us to imagine : he 

 may ftirely contrive to impart a portion of oxygen to his malt-heap without much 

 difficulty, and without much expenfe. 



&quot; Encouraged by the fuccefs of his little experiments on the growth of difcolour- 

 ed barley, he fold bis brightefl corn, and trufted his whole crop to the moft ordina^ 

 ry and the darkeft feed he had. And the prcfent appearance of his crop, confut 

 ing of more than forty acres, gives him reafon. to expect an abundant produce. 

 Although barley will grow in the ground after having received confiderable dif- 

 coloration, nay after an incipient germination has taken place in the ear as it has 

 lain on the ground, yet it certainly may be fa injured as to be very unfafefor feed. 

 He agrees, therefore, with Mr. Kerrich in earneflly recommending to thofe, who 

 at any future feafon may be difpofed tafow dark barley,. tc firft to try a fmall 

 quantity of what they may referve for feed, that they may afcertain whether it 

 will grow or not, before they fow their general crop.*&quot; 



After-culture. As this fort of crop is moftly fown broadcafl, it feldom re 

 ceives any improvement by culture afterwards. It is obvious, however, that by 

 occaiionally ftirring and Icofening the mould about the roots of the plants, and 

 keeping them clean and perfectly free from weeds, much advantage might be ob 

 tained in many cafes in the cultivation of this fort of grain; as it may thereby: 

 be rendered not only more abundant upon the ground, but the fample be con- 

 fiderably improved. The drill-fown crops have obvioufly an advantage in this 

 refpect, as has been noticed above, and which (hould of courfe recommend the 

 practice. 



When the feafon turns out dry and unkindly in the early fpring months, this 

 fort of crop is often much injured by the attacks of the worm ;, which is obvious 

 from the fudden change in the appearance of the plants, from a healthy green to a 

 yellow caft. On the firft appearance of this change, the ufe of the roller mould be 

 had recourfe to, in order that the fuperficial parts of the foil, which are probably 

 become too loofe and porous, may be effectually prefled, and thereby rendered too 

 clofe and compact to admit the worm to prey upon the tender roots of the young 

 plants. That this effect may be produced in the moft effectual manner, the roller 

 fhould be of fuch a fize, or fo loaded, as to afford a preffure equal to the draught 

 of three or four horfes, which mould be yoked double, in order to increafe the 



* Monthly Magazine, Vol. X. p. 132. 



