THE 



CULTUBE OF FARM CEOPS, 



DIVISION I. 

 THE CEEEALS OE GEAIN CEOPS. 



PART III. 



THE BARLEY AND OAT CROPS. 



CHAPTER FIRST. 



THE BARLEY CROP. 



1. OF the cereal or white crops of the farm, barley 

 claims the place next in importance to the wheat ; to the 

 leading features connected with its cultivation we there- 

 fore proceed to direct the attention of the reader. In 

 hunting up such scanty records as the generally meagre 

 history of agriculture affords bearing on the early history 

 of our farm crops, we find but little, and that little vague 

 and uncertain, with reference to that of barley. As in the 

 case of wheat, that all is merely conjecture as to its origin, 

 or by whom it was first introduced. The writings both 

 of profane and sacred authors abound with allusions to it, 

 showing the important place it occupied and the estima- 

 tion in which it was early held. The Eomans held it in 

 high repute, and the Greeks especially so ; but it is to the 

 writings of the former people that we owe what we know 



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