THE BAELEY CROP. 121 



quoted by several of the continental writers. These expe- 

 riments had reference to the comparative yield of barley 

 sown at different periods in the same soil, and in the 

 same proportions which is given as follows : 



Sown in February, the yield was as 12*5 



March, 11-5 



April, . 8'5 



May, 6-5 



,, June, ,, ,, 3'15 



These figures, furnished to us by such an authority on 

 all farming matters as Arthur Young, surely are worth 

 something. The experiment, no doubt, was a solitary 

 one; but then it was strictly comparative, consequently 

 valuable ; and at all events, it is quite within our power to 

 test their correctness in regard to the general conditions of 

 barley growing, by a more extended series of trials, which 

 would have the advantage of drawing public attention 

 to the subject, and give us reliable data for our guidance 

 in future operations. 



The methods of sowing, or depositing the seed in the 

 soil, are similar to those described in reference to wheat ; 

 and the remarks in reference to " thick and thin sowing/' 

 and to the relative proportions of seed required by the 

 different methods, are equally applicable to barley. The 

 broad-cast machine, however, is probably more generally 

 employed in barley than in wheat sowing. The area sown 

 per day is about the same, and may be calculated by the 

 rule given at p. 27- The quantity of seed sown varies in 

 different districts from 2 to 4 bushels being the usual 

 proportions ; probably, for general purposes, 3 bushels will 

 be found amply sufficient for a crop. In all cases, it is 

 advisable that the drills or lines of sowing should not be 

 so close as they are generally seen. If sown by itself, 

 9-inch widths would probably be sufficient; but, if sown 

 down with seeds in the usual manner, 12 -inch drills would 

 be preferable. By these widths the air and sun have 



