GRAIN AND ITS CULTIVATION. 121 



barley is too stiff to shrink and will lie smooth and hollow 

 even when the flour is shrunk within. The necessity of a 

 change of seed from time to time, for that grown in a different 

 soil, is in no instance more evident than in this grain, which 

 otherwise becomes coarser every successive year. But in 

 this as in all other grain, the utmost care should be taken that 

 the seed is full bodied/' 



The principal varieties are the two and six rowed ; the last 

 being preferred for hardiness and productiveness in Europe, 

 and the first generally cultivated in this country for its supe- 

 rior fulness and freedom from smut. There are numerous 

 sub-varieties, such as the Hudson's Bay which ripens very 

 early and bears abundantly ; the Chevalier and Providence, 

 both accidental, of which a single stalk was h'rst discovered 

 among others of the ordinary kinds, and proving superior and 

 of luxuriant growth, they were widely propagated : the 

 Peruvian, Egyptian, &c. New varieties may be produced 

 by crossing, as with wheat. 



SOIL. Barley requires a lighter soil than will grow good 

 wheat, and a heavier than will grow tolerable rye ; but in 

 all cases it must be one that is well drained. A mellow rich 

 loam, ranging between light sand or gravel and heavy clay, 

 is best suited to it. 



CULTIVATION. It may be sown as soon as the ground is 

 sufficiently dry in spring, on a grass or clover ley turned over 

 the preceding fall ; or it may follow a well manured and 

 cleanly hoed crop. If sown on a sod it should be lightly 

 plowed in, but not so deep as to disturb it, and afterwards 

 harrowed or rolled. The soil should always be well pulver- 

 ized. From 1J to 2i bushels per acre is the usual allowance 

 of seed, poor and mellow soils, and early sown, requiring the 

 least. Barley should never follow the other white grains, 

 nor should they succeed each other unless upon very rich 

 soil. No farmer can long depart from this rule without 

 serious detriment to his soil and crops. Barnyard manures 

 should not be applied directly to this grain unless it be a light 

 dressing of compost on indifferent soils ; or in moderate 

 quantity after the plants have commenced growing in spring. 

 When the plants are 4 or 5 inches high, rolling will be of 

 service if the ground is dry and not compact. This operation 

 gives support to the roots, destroys insects, multiplies seed 

 stalks and increases their vigor. 



Destroying weeds in grain. When grain is infested with 

 cockle, wild mustard or other weeds, they should be extirpa- 

 E 



