SOWING OF BARLEY. 207 



puts the following " Until we have better evidence that 

 the nitrogen, as united with oxygen in the air, becomes 

 largely available for plants, how can they account for the 

 supply of ammonia and nitric acid on which they rely ? " 

 But apart from all " scientific speculations," Mr. Frere be- 

 lieves that "our growth of barley" may safely be increased 

 on suitable soils, " and this in view of the facts, that while 

 the prospects of wheat are precarious, those of the barley 

 crop are steady, and that by improved skill in brewing, 

 and by the facilities now offered for transporting beer to 

 great distances, the. competition offered by the increase in 

 consumption of foreign wines is counterbalanced." 



The following shows the combined results of the crops 

 of the four following years : 



Value per Acre Value per Acre 



Years. of Barley (on of Wheat, 

 whole furrow.) 



1859, . . .890 700 



1860, . . . 840 9 10 



1861 (nearly), . . 11 900 



1862 (over), . 10 10 12 



37 13 36 2 



Average, . . 983 906 



We now come to the consideration of the points con- 

 nected with the quantity of the seed to be sown, and the 

 modes in use for sowing it. As in connection with the wheat, 

 so with the barley crop, great difference of opinion exists as 

 to the quantity of seed per acre to be used ; some advocating 

 thick, some thin sowing, while as to the modes of sowing 

 it, the same diversity of opinion also exists; so that some 

 advocate the broadcast, some the drill, and some the dibbling 

 systems. Much of what we have said on all these points 

 having special reference to the wheat crop (see volumes on 

 the Culture of Wheat) applies equally well to the barley crop. 

 Although broadcasting may be said to be the rule, still an 

 immense advantage arising from the adoption of the " drill- 

 ing system " is the facilities afforded by it to clean the crop 

 during the early stages of its growth. We are aware that 



