824 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



5095. jy/ipn sown after titrnips it is generally taken with one furrow, which is given as fast as the 

 turnips are consumed, the ground thus receiving much benefit from spring frosts. But often two or more 

 furrows are necessary for the fields last consumed ; because, when a spring drought sets in, the surface, 

 Irom being poached by the removal or consumption of the crop, gets so hardened as to render a greater 

 quantity of ploughing, harrowing, and rolling necessary than would otherwise be called for. When sown 

 after beans and peas, one winter and one spring ploughing are usually bestowed ; but, when after wheat 

 or oats, three ploughings are necessary, so that the ground may be put in proper condition. These 

 operations are very ticklish in a wet and backward season, and rarely in that case is the grower paid for the 

 expense of his labour. Where land is in such a situation as to require three plough ingsliefore it can be seeded 

 with barley, it is better to summer fallov/ it at once, than to run the risks which seldom fail to accompany 

 a quantity of spring labour. If the weather be dry, moisture is lost during the different processes, and an 

 imperfect germination necessarily follows : if it be wet, the benefit of ploughing is lost, and all the evils 

 of a wet seed-time are sustained by the future crop. {Brotim.) 



5096. To whatever crop barley succeeds, the harrow and roller, when the plough alone is insufficient, 

 should be employed in reducing the soil to a considerable degree of fineness. In most cases more than 

 one earth is given ; though, after a winter furrow, the grubber may be used in spring instead of (he 

 plough. After turnips, eaten on the ground by sheep, the land, being consolidated by their treading, 

 sometimes receives two ploughings ; but, if only one, it should be well harrowed and rolled ; and it is often 

 finished by harrowing after the roller, especially if grass-seeds be sown, which are covered by this last 

 harrowing. Barley is sometimes sown on the first ploughing, and covered by a second shallow ploughing. 

 As it is found of great importance, with a view to speedy and equal vegetation, thnt the ground should be 

 fresh and moist, barley is generally sown ujx)n what is termed hot-Jury that is, as soon as possible after it 

 is turned up by the plough 



5097. Manure can seldom be given with advantage to a crop that occupies the soil so 

 short a period as barley, and therefore it generally is sown on land which has been en- 

 riched for a preceding crop. 



5098. The climate in which barley delights is warm and dry. There are instances of 

 a crop being sown and ripened without having enjoyed a single shower of rain ; but 

 gentle showers from the time it is sown till it begins to shoot into the ear, are favourable ; 

 while heavy rains at any period, and especially immediately after sowing, or during the 

 blossoming, ripening, and reaping seasons, are highly injurious. 



5099. The best season for sowing barley is considered to be from the beginning of 

 April to the middle of May ; but bigg may be sown either in autumn to stand the winter, 

 or as late as the first week of June. In England, the winter or four-rowed barley is 

 frequently sown in autumn, and stands the most severe \Wnters. With respect to the 

 lateness at whicli bigg and summer barley may be sown, much depends on the sort of 

 weather which occurs during the first three weeks after sowing. 



.'5100. When barley is sown late it is sometimes steeped in common water to promote its germination ; but 

 it is seldom pickled or otherwise prepared. The advantages of steeping are, procuringan equal germination, 

 and consequently ripening, and getting the start of weeds. The following directions are given for per- 

 forming the operation : First, take out about one-third of the contents of the sacks of seed barley or 

 bear to allow for the swelling of the grain ; lay the sacks with the grain to steep in clean water ; let it be 

 covered with it for at least twenty-four hours; when the ground is very dry, and no likelihood of rain for 

 two or three days, it is better to lie thirty-six hours. Sow the grain wet from steeping without any 

 addition. The seed will scatter well as clean water has no tenacity ; only the sower must put in a fourth 

 or a third more seed in bulk than is usual of dry grain, as the grain is swelled in that proportion. Harrow 

 it in as quickly as possible after it is sown ; and, though not necessary, give it the benefit of a fresh furrow 

 if convenient. You may expect it up in a fortnight at farthest. {Brown.) 



5101. T'he qiiantiti/ of seed is different in different cases, according to the quality of the 

 soil and other circumstances. Upon very rich lands, eight pecks per acre are sometimes 

 sown ; twelve is very common ; and upon poor land, more is sometimes given. 



5102. IVhethcr the jrractice of giving so small a quantity of seed to the best lands is advantageous or the 

 reverse, seems a disputed point among the best farmers. That there is a saving of grain there can be no doubt ; 

 and that the bulk may be as great as if more seed had been sown, there can be as little question. Little 

 argument, however, is necessary to prove that thin sowing of barlev must be attended with considerable 

 disadvantage ; for if the early part of the season be dry, the plants will not only be stinted in their growth, 

 but will not send out offsets ; and if rain afterwards fall, an occurrence that must take place some time 

 during the summer, often at a later period of it, the plants begin to stool, and send out a number of 

 voung shoots. These young shoots, unless under very favourable circumstances, cannot be exjiected to 

 arrive at maturity ; or if their ripening be waited for, there will be a great risk of losing the early part of 

 the crop, a circumstance that frequently happens. In almost every instance an unequal sample is pro- 

 duced, and the grain is for the most part of an inferior quality. By good judges, it is thought preferable 

 to sow a quantity of seed sufficient to ensure a full crop, without depending on its sending out offsets : 

 indeed, where that is done, few offsets are produced, the crop grows and ripens equally, and the grain is 

 unifornxly good. {Bi'own on Rural Ajfhirs.) 



5103. The modes of somng barley are either broad-cast, or in rows by the drill or 

 ribbing. The broad-cast mode is almost universally adopted; unless in lands much 

 infested with annual weeds, where drilling and hand-hoeing, and in particular cases 

 horse-hoeing, may be employed with advantage. 



5104. The only culture which barley requires while in a growing state, is hoeing and 

 weeding if in rows, and weeding alone if broad-cast. Sometimes barley is rolled to com- 

 press a soft soil and exclude the drought, and when very thick it may be first harrowed 

 and then rolled. Grass seeds and clover are sown with the grain before the last 

 harrowing, when the broad-cast mode is adopted ; and immediately before hoeing, 

 when the'barley is in rows. The former is much the best mode for insuring a strong 

 plant of clover. 



5105. Eating down barley, which from winter or very early sowing is over-luxuriant, is practised in 

 some districts'; but it is alleged that mowing is much better than feeding it ; because the scythe takes ott 

 only the rank tops, but the sheep feed upon all indifferently ; nor should they even, m any case, be lelt 



