376 the farmers' handbook. 



BARLEY.* 



Barley is extensively grown in America for stock food as well as brewing, 

 and until jiig raising is a very big industry here there will not be great scope 

 for barley growing. Although barley is the ideal ration for baconers, very 

 satisfactory results are obtained with lucerne, topping up with wheat grain. 

 In this country, wheat is universally grown and is likely to be the chief 

 source of wealth (with wool) for some time to come. The screenings and 

 by-products of wheat can most economically be fed to pigs, poultry, and 

 dairy cattle, so that in most parts of the State there is not the same place for 

 barley as a crop that we find obtaining in the closely-settled districts of 

 older countries. As farming becomes more diversified, with increased 

 population and smaller holdings, barley is likely to be more grown, as it is 

 pre-eminentlv the crop for a relatively small mixed farm, responding well to 

 intensive cultivation. 



The total area sown to barley in New South Wales in the season 1921- 

 1922 was 5,9(39 acres; the )ield was 123,290 bushels, or an average of IS 

 bushels per acre. 



Uses of Barley. 



Although most of the grain produced is utilised for malting purposes, the 

 object of these notes is mainly to draw attention to the feeding value of the crop. 

 If a sample is not good enough for the brewery it may be used for feeding to 

 stock. As a grain food barley is coming more into favour in Victoria, mainly 

 in the western districts and in the north-east. Professor Henry, of America, 

 says that " barley lies between oats and maize in protein and carbohydrates, 

 and has less oil than either. On the Pacific Coast of the United States of 

 America it is much used for horse feed, because maize and oats do not grow 

 so well there. ... If ground it forms a pasty mass in the mouth ; it is 

 better to crush the grain between iron rollers." At the Wagga Experiment 

 Farm working horses have been fed either wheat or barley at the rate of 4 lb. 

 per day with good results. The grain is scalded or boiled, and for horses not 

 at work barley straw is preferred to wheaten. Professor Perkins, of South 

 Australia, says that " taking yield into consideration, barley is one of the 

 cheapest concentrated foodstuffs that we can grow, and if not satisfied with 

 local prices it can always be converted into pork or mutton at a profit, or 

 fed to horses instead of oats." In Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe 

 horses are fed on barley grain and straw ; the climate is too warm for oats. 



Barley is useful as green fodder, both on wheat and sheep farms, and 

 also in the coastal districts for dairy stock. It is the earliest straw crop for 

 green feed the farmer can grow, and a succession of feed can be maintained. 

 Barley as human food is limited to a preparation known as pearl barley. As. 

 poultry food it is valuable, and all pig-raisers attest to its high qualities as a 

 producer of pork and bacon of the best grade. 



Classification. 



The barleys in cultivation may be classified in the following way : — 

 Two-row barleys. Six-row barleys. 



Erect-eared as )' Drooping Ear Cape. Skinless or 



Standwell. j or Chevalier Naked, 



as Kinver. 



* J. T. Pridham, Plant Breeder. 



