USES OF BARLEY. 167 



the soil that is repeatedly cropped with barley. Liquid 

 manures are extensively used for it in Flanders, and 

 they promote its rapidity of vegetation ; but too stimu- 

 lating animal manures cause it to run too much to 



stalk. 



" When the oak puts on his gosling gray, 

 'Tis time to sow barley night and day," 



is an old maxim, handed down to the Norfolk farmers, 

 from which it appears that experience had shown the 

 first budding of the oak, previous to the expansion of 

 its leaves, as the best time to sow this grain. The most 

 extensive use of barley at the present time is for brew- 

 ing and distilling, a use of it which dates back to the 

 remotest antiquity, and which is said to be due to the 

 monks. 



The best and heaviest grain is desirable. The com- 

 position of barley and the malt made from it are essen- 

 tially different, and may be stated as follows : 



Barley. Malt. 



Gluten, .... 3 1 



Sugar 4 16 



Gum, 6 14 



Starch, .... 88 69 



Too 100 



The quantity of barley annually consumed for brew- 

 ing in Great Britain exceeds thirty millions of bushels, 

 and from this more than eight millions of barrels of 

 beer are yearly brewed. 



Barley is extensively used in eastern countries as 

 food for horses, but has never gained so great favor in 

 cooler latitudes. It is a less heating feed than the oat. 



Barley ought to be reaped before it becomes dead 

 ripe. In this state the husk is thick, making it more 

 difficult grinding. The approaching period of ripeness 

 is indicated by the yellowness of the straw and the 

 drooping of the heads. 



