WEATHER FOR SOWING BARLEY. 205 



In the Norfolk district, which we are now considering, 

 the sowing season extends from the middle of March to 

 the end of April, but the first half of April is considered' 

 in average seasons the most favourable time. Where land 

 works well, early sowing of barley is good ; and in Nor- 

 folk, in the strong soils, it is sown early in March. 

 " Chevalier " barley is rapidly becoming a favourite. 

 " Brewers' Delight " grows stiff in the straw, yields a good 

 sample, equal for malting purposes to " Chevalier," and is 

 therefore fast coming into repute. The old " Common 

 Barley " is now but little used. " Long-eared Nottingham " 

 is used by some, " American " by others, and by others 

 again a variety obtained from Leghorn. 



We must draw special attention to the remarks of Mr. 

 Keary on the importance of attending to the weather in 

 which, as well as to the details of the mode by which, the 

 work is performed. A great point undoubtedly is to 

 obtain a slightly damp seed-bed; but while this is worth 

 aiming at, it is impossible to find language strong enough 

 to condemn the absurd practice of working the land when 

 it is thoroughly wet " when the water stands in puddles 

 on the surface." This, however, is not done in order to 

 get the kind of seed-bed we have alluded to above, but 

 specially to accelerate the spring work. The ploughing is 

 then done, it is true, but it is not sufficiently considered 

 that numerous harro wings, rollings, and perhaps clod- 

 crushings, must be gone through before barley can be sown 

 amongst clods, which are the sure result of working in wet 

 weather. Soil forced thus into tillage rarely yields the 

 kind and genial seed-bed required for barley. Some sea- 

 sons are, however, so continuously wet that it is difficult, 

 if not altogether impossible, to get the land in proper con- 

 dition for working. Mr. Keary mentions a plan for work- 

 ing barley soil in wet weather which he describes as being 

 specially successful. A piece of cord was tied round the 

 mouldboard of the plough, this preventing the smooth 

 shiny surface given to the furrows by the plough in its 

 ordinary condition, and entirely removing the necessity to 



