CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 

 3. BARLEY. 



Genus HORDEUM. 



UNDER the general term of Barley, is included all grain that 

 is commonly used for malting. This grain has been culti- 

 vated from the earliest antiquity; and was much used among 

 the Romans, as food for both soldiers and horses. LOUDON 

 says, that it is not known of what country it is a native; some 

 assign it to Tartary, others to Siberia, and even Scotland has 

 been mentioned. 



Barley requires a rich soil, rather loamy, but not much in- 

 clined to clay. The description of a soil well adapted to the 

 growth of barley, does not differ from that of good corn ground. 

 Soils distinguished for producing good corn, will, under proper 

 cultivation, rarely fail in producing good crops of barley. But, 

 in cultivating the barley crop, good tillage and good culture 

 will always be indispensable.* 



The ground should be rich, but not made so by the applica- 

 tion of dung at the time of sowing the barley. Ground should 

 always be selected for this crop to which dung was liberally 

 applied the preceding year. Not only must the ground which 

 is intended for the growth of barley be rich, but its tillage must 

 be that of the first order. The barley crop, much less than 

 many others, will suffer itself to be cheated without retaliating 

 the injury. 



The following account of the culture, time and method of 

 harvesting produce and profits, is from the pen of the late 

 Judge BUEL, of Albany, New York. 



" The soil for barley should be such as will grow good turnips, or other green 

 crops, including clovers, and which embrace the varieties of loams and sands 

 that are not wet, or very dry and poor. Indeed, I have taken my crops, and 

 they have been pretty good, from my lightest turnip soils. Barley cannot be 

 cultivated to advantage upon stiff, heavy, and wet grounds, or on such as are 

 of a cold and tenacious quality. This crop occupies the ground but about three 

 months; and it is only in a dry, light, mellow soil that its roots can extend 

 with sufficient facility, and supply the food necessary to bring the grain to 

 rapid and perfect maturity. 



"Previous crop. Crops that precede this grain should be such as leave the 

 ground mellow and free from weeds; and for this reason hoed crops are to be 

 preferred, such as turnips, potatoes, peas, beans, &c. Small grains should not 

 precede it; they impoverish the soil, leave it foul, and, besides, it is contra- 

 vening one of the most salutary maxims of husbandry to grow two dry crops 

 in succession. It may follow clover; but if the soil is heavy, the ley should 

 be ploughed in autumn. Barley is successfully sown upon the fallows in Eng- 

 land, (not summer, but autumn fallows,) and is sown sometimes after wheat; 

 but in the latter case the turnips are pulled, and previously fed upon the stub- 



* Letters from a Father to a Son, in Genesee Farmer. 

 9* 



