FIELD CROPS 511 



South. The yield, however, is usually not as satisfactory as that of 

 the Tennessee Winter variety. At Mountainville, Tenn., spring 

 hooded barley was sown broadcast on river bottom land on February 

 1 at the rate of l 1 /^ bushels to the acre. The crop was ripe on May 

 15, and gave a yield of 40 bushels per acre. This large crop was no 

 doubt due to the care used in the selection and preparation of the 

 soil and seed. 



Soils. While barley can be grown upon most of the soils of 

 the South, a fertile, well-drained clay or loam will produce the best 

 grain crop. These soils will also give better results when barley is 

 grown for winter pasture. The strong, vigorous growth necessary 

 for producing a heavy hay crop is also made on the heavier soils. 

 For hog pasture or for fall or spring soiling the crop can be grown 

 on the lighter soils. 



Fertilizers. The appearance of the growing crop is a good indi- 

 cation of the kind of fertilizer needed. If the plants make a rapid 

 growth and are of a rich green color it indicates that there is suffi- 

 cient nitrogen in the soil to make a crop. If the growth is slow and 

 of a poor color it indicates a lack of nitrogen and possibly a sour 

 soil. If the plants make a good growth but the stems are weak and 

 the heads small and not well filled, the need of phosphoric acid and 

 potash is indicated. Many of the soils of the South are deficient in 

 nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Potash is generally less needed than 

 the two former, although on worn-out soils a complete fertilizer is 

 necessary. Where cowpeas and green manures are plowed under 

 and considerable humus is formed, the purchase of nitrogen, which 

 is the most expensive of these three elements, can be largely avoided, 

 thus reducing the cost of fertilizers. 



Sowing the Seed. The time of seeding will have to be regu- 

 lated according to the locality, the elevation, and the purpose for 

 which the crop is to be used. If intended for pasture, barley should 

 be sown at least two weeks earlier than if intended for grain, so that 

 the plants may become firmly established before pasturing com- 

 mences. For a grain crop the seeding in southern Pennsylvania, 

 Maryland, and northern Virginia should be done not later than 

 September 25. Farther south and at lower altitudes seeding is 

 usually done in October and November. A safe rule is always to 

 sow the barley before the seeding time for wheat, as barley is less 

 likely to be injured by insects than wheat. 



The rate of seeding barley must be determined by the fertility 

 of the soil and the purpose of the crop. For a grain crop it should 

 be sown with a drill at the rate of 8 pecks to the acre. On poor soil 

 the seeding should be less than on more fertile soil. For pasture, 

 hay, or soiling purposes the higher rate of seeding can be used on 

 fertile soils. 



There is no doubt that drilling in the seed will give the best 

 results. Winter barley should be drilled in deeply, leaving the fur- 

 rows rough after the drill. In case of heaving, due to freezing and 

 thawing during the winter and early spring, the young plants are 

 less likely to be injured than when the soil is made level. So many 



