The two-rowed barleys arc bo called because fhey have a row of grains on 

 either side of the mid-rib of the ear, while what we call the six row type has 

 six rows <>f grains to the ear. These rows are not all level to the eye if an 

 ear is broken across (as in the true six-row type which is not commercially 

 grown), but six-row barley is a convenient term for tin* group* 



Skinless barley, though included, is a very distinct type: there are uo 

 beards bo the ear, the grain is enveloped in thin chaff, and is easily threshed, 

 the absence of husk giving it the appearance of wheat. In the bearded 

 barleys the six-row type can be identified by the presence of two smaller 

 twisted grains for each large straight one, while in the two-row type there are 

 no twisted grains. The seed of the latter is usually fuller and more rounded 

 with less husk than that of six-row barley. 



Climate. 



A district with a comparatively good rainfall and a cool climate is well 

 adapted for two-row barley. The western and southern wheat districts 

 produce good samples, as do also the northern districts, except where a gond 

 deal of summer rainfall is registered. In the warmer districts, where the 

 grain ripens quickly, it is not possible to grow a good sample of this class 

 of barley, and the six-row varieties will be found more profitable. Of course, 

 the latter will not command quite such a high price as two-row barley, but the 

 increased yield more than compensates for a lower price per bushel. Skin- 

 less barleys are drought-resistant and well adapted for grain production in 

 dry districts, as well as for silage, the earliness of the crop enabling the 

 grower to fill silos before haymaking begins. They are also much used for 

 green fodder on the coast, where there is a good demand for the seed. In 

 districts of good rainfall this bailey grows weak straw that lodges badly if 

 the crop is left to ripen grain. 



Soil. 



For barley the soil should be only moderately rich ; the best grain is 

 obtained after a crop of wheat or oats, given a sufficient period of fallow 

 between. The most important consideration is the condition of the soil ; 

 although any wheat soil will grow good barley, it should be s-o worked that it 

 is in a mellow and a friable condition when the crop is sown. The firm 

 seed-bed required for wheat is not at all essential for barley. It is an early 

 ripening cereal, and the root growth is shorter and less abundant than that 

 of oats and wheat, so that it is necessary to sow it on land that is in a high state 

 of cultivation. Too rich a soil will cause the crop to lodge ; while low lying 

 undrained land is unsuitable, as barley cannot withstand a great amount of 

 moisture in its young stages. 



Rotation. 



Barley should follow a straw crop, such as wheat or oats, though on light 

 ■ or poor land it would be better to come after rape or a good fallow. The 

 plan followed by a farmer in the Wellington district, who has grown barley 

 for many years, is to sow it after wheat which has been cut for hay. If the 

 hay stubble is ploughed as soon as possible there is time for a few months 

 fallow before sowing barley in May. Another most important consideration 

 is that by this method there is no risk of self-sown wheat in the barley, 

 and if a hay crop of wheat is again sown after barley, the farmer will be 



