SCf. IV. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 1 69 



be seen in some parts of the county. It lias two 

 rows of grain, is short in the ear, and spreads 

 the awns in the form of a fan. When it meets 

 with good soil and good husbandry, it produces 

 abundantly. But it is not much cultivated. 



3^/, Steeping. Steeping barley, though sel- 

 dom or never practised in this county, may, ne- 

 vertheless, in certain circumstances, be extreme- 

 ly proper. When sown on light land, and in 

 very dry weather, it will ly long in the ground, 

 and at last spring very unequally, This incon- 

 venience may be prevented by steeping the seed 

 for 36 hours immediately before it be sown. 

 And to answer the purpose more completely, 

 it ought to be sown under fur. In this way, 

 the seed being lodged in the moistest part of the 

 soil, and beyond the reach of the scorching heat, 

 the vegetation of every grain will be secured, 

 whilst its being previously steeped, will make it 

 appear above ground as soon as if it had been 

 lodged nearer the surface. 



4//&, Seed. The quantity of seed allowed to 

 an acre, is from 10 to 16 pecks, varying accord- 

 ing to the dryness and richness of the soil, and 

 as it is more or less early sown. 



5//6, Time of Solving. From the middle of A- 

 pril to the end of May. 



6//6, Culture while growing. The same as of 

 oats. 



7//6, Harvesf.B&rlQy is, for the most part, 

 earlier than oats, and is reaped in general be- 

 tween the middle of August and the middle of 

 September. Common bear, sown about the 

 middle of May, will be as soon ripe as barley 

 sown in the end of April, It is almost alway 

 T 



