CEREALS AND FORAGE PLANTS 357 



but the best protection of young winter wheat is a covering of 

 snow, under which it can endure freezing temperatures. The 

 greatest danger to winter wheat is the alternate thawing and 

 freezing of an unprotected soil. 



Spring wheat is sown as early as possible, to secure the 

 cooler part of the growing season for the principal growth, and 

 usually upon soil that has been ploughed the previous autumn, 

 or often without ploughing upon a corn-field of the preceding 



FIG. 34. Map shaded to show the states of greatest barley-production. 



season. In the case of ploughing and preparing a seed-bed, the 

 seed is broadcast or drilled as described above. In the case 

 of planting among corn-stubble, it is broadcast and covered 

 by a corn-cultivator and frequent harrowing. 



Barley 



60. Production of barley. The great barley-producing 

 country of the world is Russia, which reported 411 million 

 bushels in 1911 ; while the United States came second 

 with only 160 million bushels. In 1912 the United States, 

 produced 224 million bushels. 

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