FARM CROPS 21 



fact as soon as a good seed-bed can be prepared, 

 which will be dependent on the weather, as 

 more harm than good can be done by cultivating 

 land that is too wet. For barley a good seed- 

 bed is more essential than for either of the 

 other crops, as barley, being required for 

 malting purposes, the production of a perfectly 

 uniform crop of good quality grain is necessary. 

 If the land cannot be got into good enough 

 condition to ensure this it would be better to 

 substitute oats or spring wheat, rather than 

 produce a crop of barley worth only a low 

 price. On light, calcareous, or sandy loams 

 there is less difficulty in getting a good seed- 

 bed than on the heavier soils, where skilful 

 management is required to get the requisite 

 tilth. The remarks in the last chapter respect- 

 ing the richness of the soil must also be borne 

 in mind. For barley a shallow, finely-reduced 

 seed-bed must be produced, to attain which it 

 is as well to have ploughed only 4 inches deep ; 

 2-3 bushels of seed are sown and covered with 

 light harrows, followed by a light rolling. 



F'or oats 5-6 bushels is the usual quantity 

 to sow, and 2 cwt. super, 2 cwt. kainit, ^ cwt. 

 nitrate of soda and ^ cwt. sulphate of ammonia 



