80 AUSTRALIAN AQRICCLTUKK. 



grain deteriorated. Deficiencies of plant food in the soil 

 might not be the cause of rust, but there was no doubt 

 that by weakening the plant it became more susceptible to 

 the attacks of the insidious parasite. Wheat was the main 

 food for the white man, because it contained a large amount 

 of bone and muscle making substances; phosphoric acid 

 and lime help materially to make bone. The recom- 

 mendations made were to use every care in the selection 

 and treatment of seed, and earlier sowing and quicker 

 maturing of the crop, in order to avoid the dangerous 

 time for rust October and November. 



BARLEY. In Australia, this is both a summer and a 

 winter crop. In the wheat districts it is sown a month or 

 so after that grain say in June or July. In other places, 

 August is a favorite month for sowing. Man}- varieties of 

 barley have been tried. The sorts in general cultivation 

 are Early English or common ; long-eared or Nottingham ; 

 Cape, German, or Pomeranian; Chevalier, the best for 

 malting ; Bere, or four-rowed barley. Any good com land 

 will answer for barley ; and soil too poor for the former 

 can, with careful treatment, be made to yield fair crops of 

 barley. It is a deeper rooter, seldom liable to attacks of 

 fungus, and will stand direct manuring ; while, for wheat, 

 manure is best applied to a preceding crop or by grazing. 

 Barley will not do with wet at the roots, and is a slow 

 grower and shy bearer upon clay. For malting barley, 

 magnesia is a requirement in the soil, and a heavier rainfall 

 than for wheat is necessary. The land should be drained. 

 Plough as deep as possible, and harrow clean before sowing. 

 Barley : as a crop, follows well after lucerne ; it has also 

 done well when sown after sugar-cane, and is a useful 

 rotation crop for either cutting green or for grain where 

 horse feed is grown. It is also a quick, useful catch crop 

 for wild, porous land, intended for ensilage, cane or other 

 summer crops. 



BERE. A variety of barley, and the same treatment 

 answers. It can be sown from April to July. It is 

 an almost certain crop on moderately good, well-drained 

 !and. 



