AND OTHER FORAGE PLANTS. 73 



grazing it, animals receive so much sand and other dirt that 

 their teeth and stomachs are damaged many times and the nu- 

 tritive function seriously obstructed. 



Barley seems not to be damaged, but rather benefitted by 

 winter grazing ; and with me it has never shown any sign of 

 rust or other diseases, while all the other grains around it have 

 been utterly destroyed by rust. - Possibly my lands may be 

 specially adapted to it. 



Preferably I plant in September ; but everything favoring, a 

 few days earlier would not be objectionable. The quantity of 

 seed per acre should be two and a half or three bushels. It suc- 

 ^ceeds well on almost any well drained land that has not been 

 exhausted. On good land the crop should be forty to sixty 

 bushels of seed per acre. 



The proportions of nutritive principles in barley straw are as 

 nearly identical with those in wheat straw, as would probably 

 be found in two samples of the latter taken from the same mow. 

 Now 100 pounds of barley, clean grain, contains twelve ounces 

 more nutritive matter than 100 of clean corn. But the nutri- 

 tive matters are differently proportioned and combined in the 

 two kinds of grain. The barley I think more wholesome for aiv- 

 imals, especially growing animals. Arab horses in their native 

 country are fed almost wholly on barley. Many pages might 

 be quoted to show how highly it is prized in foreign countries 

 as a forage plant and the most gratifying results from its use in 

 that way. I think it has given as good results in this country 

 whenever tried. I prefer it to corn not only for young stock, 

 but for working animals, especially in warm weather. 



When harvesting barley, a portion should be left standing in 

 the field for the hogs. It carries them through the hot months 

 in most admirable condition. It is, indeed, a most wholesome 

 food for them at all times, and the flesh of pigs fed with it has a 

 peculiar tenderness, delicacy and sweetness, that induce the con- 

 noisseur to pay an extra price for it. It is said that barley-fed 

 meat increases also in bulk when boiled. But because barley is 

 used for raising bread and beer, it must not be supposed to have 

 the same effect on boiling meat. The improvement must be 

 made in the live meat. 



Barley is a good food for all farm stock, including poultry ; 

 but specially as part feed for milk cows. 



It can be grown cheaper than corn, heavier crops are made 

 per acre, the crop is less liable to accidents in growth, and when 

 harvested worth more for home consumption or as a money 

 crop. But it requires nice care in harvesting. It should be 

 cut as soon as fully ripe, tied in small bundles and dried thor- 

 oughly and as soon as practicable. The long beards and abun- 

 dant chaff catch and hold much water from dew and rains and 

 thus the grain is very liable to be injured. It should be thresh- 



