BARLEY 



103 



be hardy enough to stand mild winters; the grain may be 

 mealy or hard in quality. 



If the grain is .to be marketed, the choice of a variety 

 depends upon the quality and yield; if it is to be used for 

 feeding farm animals, upon straw and grain. If barley is 

 to be used for hay, beardless varieties have an advantage; 

 they are less irritating to the mouths of animals than the 



Distribution map of barley. One dot represents 5000 acres. 

 (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.) 



bearded varieties. During the Great War, owing to the 

 demand for wheat, barley flour became an important substi- 

 tute for wheat flour. For such use the hard varieties are 

 superior to mealy varieties because of their greater protein 

 content. Much of the grain of barley was formerly used for 

 brewing. The mealy varieties are generally preferred for 

 this purpose. 

 Barley will do well in most parts of the country but it 



