FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 13 



ASS. This is a valuable animal for carrying burdens, and 

 for being used in small carts. Mr. Livingston observes, 

 that tor these purposes they, are much used in the country 

 between Nantz and Paris; and that even loads of wood and 

 hay are there carried on their backs. Their use for many 

 purposes in this Country, particularly in villages, would be 

 found an article of economy; they will subsist on the coars- 

 est fare ; may be kept at constant service ; are subject to 

 few or no diseases; and they live to a great age. 



It is also mentioned in < The Cow.filete Grazier f that 

 Asses have been successfully used in Greatbriiain for 

 ploughing light lands, four of them being equal to two 

 Horses. 



B. 



BARLEY (Hordeum.} This is a hardy grain, subject to 

 few diseases, bears the drought well, and is profitable for 

 cultivation. When hulled, it may be ground into flour, 

 which makes a bread whiter than wheat, and but little infe- 

 rior in taste. Soups made of it, when hulled, are as good 

 as those made of rice, and are accounted cooling and de- 

 tersive in fevers. The longer this grain is kept the better- 

 tasted it becomes; as the cause of its bad taste is owing to 

 its hull. The usual allowance of seed for an acre is two 

 bushels; but this is hardly sufficient: In general, two and 

 a half is better. Barley has frequently been known to 

 yield sixty bushels an acre It requires a soil in good con- 

 dition, and, like many other crops, turns to poor account 

 when sown on such as are poor. The best for raising it 

 are the loamy, sandy-loamy, or gravelly soil ; but it will do 

 very well even on a strong stiff clay, provided it be well 

 mellowed with frequent and effectual ploughings and bar- 

 rowings; and these can be done to the best effect in the 

 Fall preceding. 



As barley is a dry husky grain, ami requires considerable 

 moisture to cause it to vegetate, it should be sown when 

 the ground is sufficiently moist. It jshould also be sown as 

 soon as the ground can be well prepared in the Spring. 

 This grain receives .essential benefit from being soaked in 

 lye, brine, or some other fertilizing liquor. An English 

 \Vriter mentions an experiment made, some years since f 

 which may be worth inserting. 



