THE SMALL GRAINS 171 



III. BARLEY 



214. Where barley grows. Barley is among the oldest of 

 our cultivated plants. It was probably grown at as early a date 

 as was wheat, and for many thousands of years before oats or 

 rye. It is believed that barley was first grown in southwestern 

 Asia. About one fourth of the barley of the world is produced 

 in Russia. The United States ranks second, and Germany third, 

 in barley production. Nearly 90 per cent of the barley of the 

 United States is produced in eight states, California ranking 



FIG. 83. Stacks of oats 



The practice of stacking wheat and oats to await the coming of the threshing machine 

 was formerly much more common than now 



first, Minnesota second, and Wisconsin third. This crop has a 

 wider range than either wheat or oats, yet it is more exacting 

 than either of these cereals in its soil needs. It is grown most 

 extensively in the north temperate zone and gives the best 

 results there. 



215. Types of barley. There are two generally recognized 

 types of barley the six-rowed and the two-rowed types. The 

 six-rowed type is grown almost exclusively in the corn belt as a 

 partial substitute for oats in the rotation and as a feed, while 

 a little further to the north and west the two-rowed type seems 

 to give the best results. 



