THE BARLEY CEOP. 115 



while the barley, whose habit it is to throw out its roots 

 near to the surface, would find the supplies there more 

 scanty than it would like. Thus this place in a rotation 

 is both chemically and mechanically that best adapted to 

 the special habits and requirements of barley. 



We see it, however, frequently very differently arranged. 

 The two and the three course systems are only followed 

 on strong clay soils, which in themselves are not suited for 

 barley cultivation. In the five and six course systems, on 

 soils suitable to barley, the same arrangement can be 

 advantageously carried out. Here, however, it is that we 

 meet with variable practices. Sometimes we find it fol- 

 lowing another grain crop wheat commonly where the 

 soil is supposed to be in high condition, and the present 

 rather than the future crops occupy the farmer's attention, 

 the temptation of putting two consecutive crops in his 

 pocket being too great to be resisted. Under the most 

 favourable circumstances this is a very questionable gain, 

 and under ordinary circumstances a very certain loss. 

 Both crops belong to the same order of plants ; they require 

 the same food from the soil, and in about the same 

 quantities, to perfect their growth. The wheat occupies 

 the ground first, and has about nine months to search 

 about and abstract from it all the food it needs. It is 

 then followed by the barley a plant less vigorous in its 

 growth which, however, is expected, during the short 

 time it occupies the soil four to five months to obtain 

 from it, in its now impoverished state, the same amount of 

 mineral matter which the wheat had double the time to 

 effect in. The consequence is, that the second grain crop 

 is generally a very reduced one. It may look very well 

 while it is growing; but when it comes into the barn, its 

 yield will be found diminished in quantity, while the 

 weight of the sample shows its deterioration, and lowers 

 its market value. The succession of crops of the same 



