ROTATION OF CROPS 211 



between the drills to collect all the fine 

 mould along the lines where the turnip seed 

 is distributed. 



In the east of England, notably Norfolk, 

 Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, where the highest 

 quality of barley is grown, the Norfolk four- 

 course shift is modified as follows : 



1. Roots. 



2. Wheat. 



3. Barley. 



4. Seeds. 



5. Oats, or wheat. 



Here barley follows wheat, as it is found 

 that in this way malting barley of the highest 

 quality can be secured, although at the cost 

 of some reduction in quantity. If barley 

 immediately follows roots, especially if folded 

 by sheep, it frequently obtains more nitrogen 

 from the manurial residues than is con- 

 sistent with the production of grain of the 

 highest class. What the maltster wants in 

 barley is a high percentage of starch, with 

 as little proteid or nitrogenous substance 

 as possible. The introduction of wheat 

 between roots and barley reduces the nitrogen 

 contents of the soil, so that the barley that 

 follows yields grain of a starchy, as opposed 

 to a " flinty," character. 



