THE BARLEY CKOP. 



105 



ground. This appears to be the reason why it never retains 

 its place among our field crops for any length of time. 



No. 2. The H. vulgar e Bere or .Bigg is represented 

 by several varieties, whose cultivation, however, is con- 

 fined to the northern and exposed districts of England 

 and of Scotland. They are rarely met with elsewhere, 

 except upon inferior and ungenial soils, where the finer 

 qualities of barle}^ would not successfully be grown. 



The Common Bere or Bigg differs greatly in appearance 

 from the two-rowed barley. The ears are thicker and 

 shorter, about 2| to 3 inches long, and con- 

 tain about forty to fifty grains in each, ar- \ 

 ranged round the rachis in two single 

 and two double rows. The straw is about 

 3 feet high, tough, and bright-coloured. 

 The grain is thin, and pointed at both 

 ends; weighs light, generally 40 to 45 

 Ibs. per bushel only. The awns are long, 

 and adhere to the grain firmly. The 

 sample is always inferior, and is gener- 

 ally used for distilling or feeding purposes. 

 The proportions per cent, of the different 

 parts are given as follows : 



Grain, 50'904 



Awns, &c., , 5713 



Straw, 37-973 



Boots, &c., 5-410 



100-000 



Black Four-rowed an improved va- 

 riety, of a black or dark- bluish colour. 

 Ear much longer than the common bere ; 

 grains plumper, and of finer quality. It 

 is sufficiently hardy to stand the winter, and in such case 

 may be fed off in the spring, and then left for seed. The 

 produce is generally very good, and the quality equal to 



Common Bere or Bigg. 



