332 PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 



ent times, they should not be sowed together. The produce 

 is equal in both varieties, but the Tartarian has a shorter 

 stratv. 



Barley (hordeum vulgare) is extensively cultivated, partly 

 as an article of food, and partly for malt liquors and ardent 

 spirits. The summer barley is the only variety cultivated in 

 the United States. 



Barley seed, before sowing, should be steeped twenty-four 

 hours in soft water, in order to promote the germination of 

 all the grain and its ripening at the same time. 



The soil should be rich and mellow, although it will flour- 

 ish tolerably on a clay soil, free from weeds. Crops of tur- 

 nips or potatoes are the best preparation for this crop. The 

 seed should always be sowed upon a fresh-stirred soil, as 

 early as the land will allow in the spring, and from 2 to 3 

 bushels should be allowed to the acre. The barley may be 

 i^radled in the same manner as oats. The value of this crop 

 may be thus estimated per acre. 



Produce, 30 bush, at 80 cts. 



Ploughing, 2,00 



Seed, 3 bush, at 80 cts. 2,40 



Sowing and harrowing, 1 ,50 



Harvesting, 2,50 



Threshing, 2,80 



$11,20 



per bushel, 24,00 



Straw, 5,00 



2;',00 



Deduct expense, 11,20 



$ 17,80 



This is probably about an average for this crop, yet fifty- 

 four, and even sixty bushels have been produced on a single 

 acre. When clover and grass seeds are sown with it, it is 

 recommended to delay the sowing of the grass seed, until 

 the barley has just appeared above the soil and then harrow 

 it in. This will effect the barley favorably, and increase 

 the*quantity of both crops. 



Buckwheat is a valuable crop, because it will flourish well 

 on a sandy, poor soil. It is, however, but little cultivated in 

 New England. It is one of the best crops for turning in to 

 the soil to increase the quantity of vegetable matter. It will 

 yield, upon an average, 30 bushels per acre, and the flour is 



