108 



OUR FARM CROPS. 



for illustrative or experimental purposes. The ear is short, 

 very broad at the base, and tapering towards the extre- 

 mity. The grains stand out from the rachis, as in the last 

 species, but having only two grains in a 

 row; the ear is flat, like the two-rowed 

 barleys. A two-rowed variety, known as 

 Peacock's Barley, greatly resembling this 

 species, was introduced some years ago, 

 but seems to have passed out of cultiva- 

 tion altogether. The straw was short ; the 

 ears small but broad, and containing from 

 ten to twelve grains on a side; grain 

 heavy, but of coarse quality. 



Such are the principal varieties of bar- 

 ley cultivated. In most districts where 

 thorough draining and other improve- 

 ments have been carried out, the two- 

 rowed is gradually supplanting the coarser 

 four-rowed varieties. We have already, 

 while discussing the wheat crop (p. 16), 

 alluded to the different qualities that a soil 

 should possess in order to render it suitable to the plant, 

 and also to the climatal conditions necessary for its success- 

 ful cultivation (p. 98). There is a very wide range of bar- 

 ley soils in this country ; nearly all the geological forma- 

 tions, save those of a purely argillaceous (clay) character 

 furnishing soils more or less suitable for its growth. In 

 the tertiary formations the drifted soils are more suitable 

 for its cultivation than the alluvial and the strong clays 

 of the London basin, in which, however, we see wheat 

 thrives well. In the cretaceous series we meet with excel- 

 lent barley soils in the beds of the upper and lower chalk, 

 and in the silicious soils of the Hastings and green-sand 

 formations; while the interstratified beds of gault and 

 weald-clay furnish no soils where barley can be grown. 



Battledore Barley 

 (H. Zeocriton). 



