300 THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



Is not only profitable for the larger crops grown, but that 

 the fertility of the land is permanently improved by it. 

 Farmers know very well that the soil may be injured for 

 many years to come by injudicious culture, as by plowing 

 clay land when it is wet, or by plowing too deeply and 

 burying the fertile surface soil under a covering of raw in- 

 fertile subsoil ; in a corresponding manner, but conversely, 

 the thorough pulverization of the land which is necessary 

 for the successful growth of barley improves it for years 

 to come. It is this fact which made the arduous labor of a 

 previously popular summer fallow profitable, by increasing 

 the yield of all the crops which followed it during the whole 

 rotation. It also furnishes a sufficient inducement for far- 

 mers to summer fallow the land as a preparation for laying 

 a field down to permanent meadow. 



Barley costs no more to cultivate than wheat; but it 

 yields a greater weight per acre of grain, and is worth more 

 in the market or for feeding. Its use for brewing gives it 

 a high value in the market, but we would advocate its cul- 

 ture for other purposes than this, viz . for its value for feed- 

 ing and for its excellence as a crop to seed down to grass 

 and clover with. Barley weighs from 50 to 64 Ibs. per 

 bushel being thus only a little lighter than wheat. The av- 

 erage weight throughout the United States and Canada is 

 54 Ibs. to the bushel. 



This grain requires a thoroughly mellow clean soil, and 

 thrives best in a rich medium light loam inclined to clay; 

 although the lightest colored and thinnest skinned grain is 

 grown on sandy loam. 2 bushels of seed is sown per acre 

 early in the spring. It follows a root crop that has been 

 manured and fertilized, admirably; and in the lengthened 

 rotation suggested in a previous chapter, this would be its 

 most appropriate place; clover being sown with it, and oats 

 succeeding the corn and preceding the roots. 



RYE is not an important grain crop and yet it is largely 

 grown by farmers who cannot, or do not, make the culture 

 of wheat profitable. The grain is more nutritious than 

 wheat and makes very sweet and palatable bread. When 



