172 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



by the nature of the soil from which it is pro- 

 duced : these opposite tiroductions of the 

 same individual will, if sown at the same pe- 

 riod, oil the same land, aiid under the same 

 course of cultivation, exhibit coirespouding 

 differenct^s, which are manifested during the 

 growth of the crop, and subsequently in the 

 quality of the sample when in hand. Thus 

 the linest samples, the growth of suitable and 

 w^ell-cultivatetl lands, would, if sown on a poor 

 and sterile soil, become alike coarse in appear- 

 ance and iudirterent in quidity. This fact, 

 however important, has hitherto but little en- 

 gaged the attention of the fanners in the 

 southern part of England ; and the sjiring or 

 early barley, without reference to quality, is 

 therefore indiscriminately sown, as being 

 ibund more prbductive lor the purpose of 

 malting tlian any of the belbrementianed va- 

 rieties. Tlie sprat or battledore bailey makes 

 good malt, and being short and erect ui the 

 ear, and tapering in the stem, is, on strong 

 lands, less liable to injuiy from falling, and is, 

 consequently, preferred by a few individuals. 

 The common or long-eared barley, being long 

 ill the ear and weak in the straw, is very lia- 

 ble to lodge early, whereby the graui is ren- 

 dered mierior in quality, and is, therefore, 

 not extensively cidtivated. Naked barley, or 

 wlieat bai'ley, is so termed in consequence of 

 the grain separating readily from the chatf 

 when threshed. It is a native of the North, 

 and will bear sowing early in the season ; it 

 is not, however, in much estimation in the 

 south of England, and is seldom cultivated, 

 although it makes strong malt, and is excel- 

 lent for fattening of hogs and cattle. Winter 

 barley, or square-eared barley, is grov^'ii to a 

 considerable extent in the north-westeru part 

 of England and ui Scotland. It is visually 

 sown for the feeding of sheep in the south of 

 England, and mixed with tares for the soihng 

 of catde. As food for sheep it is far more 

 jiroductive than lye, aii it admits of being fed 

 down every two or three days during sum- 

 mer ; and if intended for seed, it may previ- 

 ously be fed oft' by sheep eai'ly in the season 

 without injury to the crop. 



CuLTUUK, &c. Soil. — The land diat pro- 

 duces the best bai'loy is generally of a siU- 

 r:ious, light, pulverulent and dry nature; for 

 H good mellow [Ji-eparation and free soil arc 

 essential to the gi'owth of malting barleys. 

 Oold. wet soils, which are peculiarly reten- 

 tive of water, are ill mlapted to the gi'owth of 

 this grain, both in ixMi-rence to it^ weight and 

 malting (jualities. The whole matter of bar- 

 l!;y and its straw contains nioii; silicious par- 

 ticles than thai of any other grain cnltivated 

 by the British I'armor, aiul hence the reason 

 why a sandy soil is most congenial to the 

 growth of this plant. 



I'uoi'AGATKD — Bi/ sred -sown either broad- 

 cast or in drills, the (piantity vaiying accord- 

 ing to the quality of the soil, cultivation and 

 time of sowing ; less being reqitired on rich 

 mt;llow lauds tlum on poor soils; early sow- 

 ing with good tillage requiring less seed than 

 late sowing with uiditferent tillage. 



The quantity of seed per acre, if sown 

 broadcast, varies from four to six bu.shels; if 

 drilled, a less quantity will be required ; and 

 on very rich soils less than four bushels will 

 be sufficient. 



Ti>/icofSowi7ig. — The common sprat bar- 

 leys may be sown from the second week in 

 March, if the weather prove dry, until the 

 tenth of May. The Big, a variety of the win- 

 ter barley, will stand agauist the winter, and 

 may be sown either in the autumn or the be- 

 ginning of Mai-ch. The Bear or square bar- 

 ley should be sown as early in the autumn as 

 the clearing of the harvest will admit, and 

 may be sown after wheat, bai'ley, oats, or any 

 pulse crop, being a plant of sturdy growth. 



In the Choice of Seed, gi-eat care should bo 

 taken that it is not of a reddish hue, as in that 

 case it is more than probable that a gi-eat part 

 of it will never vegetate ; the sample should 

 be of a pale lively color, and unilbrm through- 

 out. Some fanners, not aware of its import- 

 ance, are in the habit of sowing iki7i corn,hut 

 unless the land is quite adapted from its na- 

 ture and cultivation for the idlest encourage- 

 ment of the plant, it will in the end be found 

 a ' penny wise and pound foolish' speculation. 

 In all cases it will be well for the farmer to 

 select the finest samples and the plumpest 

 giown, for, in unfavorable seasons, the crop 

 from thin gi'ain is always delicate, and as- 

 sumes an unkindly hue — wliile, on the con- 

 trary, plum]i seed throws up strong, healthy 

 stems, capable of resisting the eflects of in- 

 clement seasons, and in more congenial weatii 

 er pushing forth with renewed vigor and 

 redoubled strength. 



Preparation of the Soil. — Barley, for the 

 most part, succeeds best after tuniips, tares, 

 potatoes, ctUTOts, mangel-wurzel, or other 

 green ameliorating crojis, but does not suc- 

 ceed so well after wheat or other white sti'aw 

 crops, nor after rape so well as other green 

 crops, except on the south downs and certain 

 liuids adjoining the sea coast — where botli the 

 quantity of grain is greater, and the quality 

 better after wheat (particularly wheat sown 

 upon a clover ley), and al.so after lajie, tliau 

 from any other course of tillage. T!ie land 

 requires more or less plowing, according to 

 the quidity of the soil, and the state in which 

 it is found, after the season for the working 

 of it commences. On retentive soils, as com 

 pact gravelly clay, if the turnips have been 

 led off during wet weather, the earth breaks 

 up in large clods, and re(|uires to be reduced 

 by the roller, and at least a second plowing 

 should be given before the bark'V can be 

 safely sown. On light soils of the best quality, 

 one plowing may be suHicit;nt ; but if the huid 

 is twice ])lo\veil in the spiing as soon as it is 

 suliiiiently dry for that purpo.<e, it will be 

 found amply to repay both the labor and ex- 

 pense. E;u1y weeding should be atter.ded to, 

 or the crop will be injured by treading, and 

 the roller should be used before the blade 

 becomes spinilled. 



Harvesting. — In the harvesting of barley 

 more caie is requisite llian in talving any of 



