CHAPTER XVI. 



BARLEY AND RYE. 



History of Barley. — The culture of barley is 

 very ancient. Both it and wheat were cultivated be- 

 fore we have any history of mau. In ancient Egypt 

 it was used as food for man and beast, and also made 

 into beer. It was the chief bread plant of all those 

 nations from which we derive our civilization. Bar- 

 ley continued to be the chief bread plant of continental 

 Europe down to the sixteenth century. The intro- 

 duction and wide cultivation of potatoes and the 

 rapid development of the growth of wheat has brought 

 about a decline in the use of barley. Barley was 

 used to some extent by both man and beast in the 

 early colonies of this country. 



Production. — Barley is the fourth cereal crop in 

 the extent of its production in the United States. It 

 is. much less important, however, than either wheat, 

 corn or oats. The acreage of wheat is about one-half, 

 that of oats less than one-third, and that of barley 

 only about one-thirtieth that of corn. The average 

 yield of barley during the past decade was 22 bushels 

 per acre. From 35 to 40 bushels per acre may be 

 considered a fairly good yield. Fifty bushels per 

 acre is not extraordinary. The average price during 

 past decade has been 59 cents per bushel, a decrease 

 of 15 cents from previous decade. 



The average annual value per acre of wheat, corn, 

 oats and barley during the past decade has been: 

 wheat, $9.97; corn, $9.48; oats, $8.22; barley, $13.79. 



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