iil 



vol.. X»II. NO. I. 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



I5ARLEV. 



Barley is sair! to contain O.") per cent, of niitri- 



matter; wheat contains 78 per cent. A busli- 



nf barley weigliing 50 lbs., will tlicrefore ci)n- 



in about 32 lbs. of nutriment ; while a bushel of 



heat weii^hinff 60 lbs., contains 47 lbs. Good 



its weighing -10 lbs., contain about 24 lbs. of nu- 



itive matter ; so that the comparative value of 



heat, barley, ami oats, in feeding cattle, mny bo 



presented by 47, 3^', and 24, the measure being 



e same. 



There is no grain perhaps more aflTi'Cted (says 

 axter,) by soil and cultivation than barley — the 

 ime species exhibiting opposite qualities, tnodi- 

 ed by the nature of the soil from which it is pro- 

 iiced ; these opposite productions of the same in- 

 ,vidual, will, if sown at the same period, on the 

 inie land, and under the same course of culliva- 

 on, e.xhibit corresponding differences, which are 

 lanifested during the growth of the crop, and sub- 

 jquenlly in the quality of the sample when in 

 and. Thus, the finest samples, the growth of 

 jitable and well cultivated lands, would, if sown 

 n a poor and sterile soil, become alike coarse in 

 ppearance and indifferent in quality. This fact, 

 owever important, has hitherto but little engaged 

 le attention of the farmer. 



The land that produces the best barley, is gen- 

 rally of a silicious, light, dry nature. Cold, wet 

 oils, which are peculiarly retentive of water, are 

 1 adapted to the growth of this grain. The whole 

 latter of barley and its straw contains more sili- 

 ious particles than that of any other grain cnlli- 

 ated by the British farmer ; and hence one rea- 

 on R'hy a sandy soil is most congenial to the 

 Towth of this plant. 



In the choice of seed, great care should be taken 

 hat it is not of a reddish hue, as in that case it is 

 nore than probable that a great part of it will nev- 

 ir vegetate. The seed should be of a pale, lively 

 ;olor, and plump. 



In the harvesting of barley more care is requi- 

 lile than in taking any other of the white crops, 

 ;ven in the best of seasons ; and in bad years it is 

 bund very difficult to save it. When the period 

 if harvest arrives, barley must be allowed to be 

 ufficiently ripe, but not become what is termed 

 dead ripe." It may be cut either by the scythe 

 ir the sickle. 



Barley, says Professor Low, on account of the 

 oftness of its stem, and the tendency of its ears to 

 egetate, is more apt to be injured, and even de- 

 troyed by wet weather, than any other of the ce- 

 eal grains. For this reason, the safer course is, 

 phen cut down, to place it in sheaves and shock?, 

 nd not to allow it, as is frequently the case, to lie 

 oose upon the ground. It not unfrequently oc- 

 urs, that when it is supposed to be well harvested, 

 lOat is soon found to subsist in the mows, which 

 hould be daily examined, by placing a long iron 

 pit, which should be kept for that purpose, deep 

 nto the mow ; when, if the heat is found to in- 

 rease, no delay should take place, but the middle 

 hould be instantly cut asunder, and taken out in 

 iroportion to the size of the mow, when it will 

 ;enerally escape without further injury. 



Barley is not only the most useful grain for mak- 

 ng into malt, but il is the best food for promoting 

 he fattening of hogs, after they have been fed to 

 , certain extent with beans, peas, &c., from which 

 t has been found that the meat is not only more 

 ender, but increases in boiling. Barley is em- 

 iloyed for various other purposes. It is excellent 



for fattening poultry. For food of horses, two 

 parts of barley are equal to three parts of oats. 

 In Germany, they grind the barley, and form it in- 

 to cakes, with which they food their horses ; and 

 it is no unusual circumstance, in travelling in that 

 country, to see the driver eating a slice from the 

 same loaf with which he Iceds his horses. 



I\l. Saussure has carefully analyzed the ashes 

 produced by burning barley and its straw. The 

 grain reduced to ashes, with its skin, gave, out of 

 100 parts, 18 of ashes, which contained — 

 Potash, 18. 



Phosphate of potash, 9.2 



Sulphate of potash, 1.5 



Muriate of potash, 0.25 



Earthy phosphates, 32.5 



Silica, 35.5 



Metallic oxides, 0.25 



Loss, 2.8 



100. 



1000 parts of the straw produced 42 of ashes, 



containing — , 



Potash, 16. 



Sulphate of potash, 3.5 



Muriate of potash, 0.5 



Earthy phosphates, 7.75 



Earthy carbonates, ]2.5 



Silica, 57. 



Metallic oxides, 0.5 



Loss, 2.25 



100. 



These products no doubt vary in different soils; 

 but the proportion of silica in the straw and in the 

 skin of barley, is remarkable. This barley grew 

 on a chalky soil. In addition to these, the cubic 

 saltpetre, or nitrate of soda, is usually found in 

 minute proportions in barley. — Fanners' Encyclop. 



CANADA THISTLE. 



The root of the Canada thistle is perennial, 

 creeping, and exceedingly tenacious of life, which, 

 with its prolific character, for it springs up from 

 the filaments of the roots as well as from seed, 

 makes it the vilest pest in the form of a weed that 

 has ever invaded American farms. The utmost 

 vigilance will bo required to prevent its spread 

 wherever it may be discovered. 



A great many devices have been resorted to for 

 the eradication and destruction of the Canada this- 

 tle. Some aim at the entire removal of the root 

 by machines contrived to cut off" and harrow up the 

 roots. Others rely upon mowing down the thistles 

 when they arc in full bloom, as a most certain 

 method. Not content with simply cutting down, 

 some apply common salt to the stems or crowns of 

 the roots, which makes the destruction more sure. 

 Low and frequent cutting down in summer, about 

 the blooming period, wtll doubtless destroy plants, 

 however tenacious of life they may be, since the 

 roots are as much indebted for life to their leaves 

 or lungs, as the leaves are to the roots. Neither 

 can subsist long without the aid of the other im- 

 portant members of the system Ibid. 



Htty Crop in Worcester County. — Many of our 

 farmers have commenced haying in good earnest. 

 The rapidity of vegetation during the present 

 month has been wonderful. The crop of grass is 

 unusually large and fine, and promises to be well 

 cured and housed. — Darrt Caz. 



TABLE 



Shorairifc the length of Railways radiating from, 



and in connection with, the City of Boston. 



.Miles. 

 From Boston, via Albany, to Buffalo, 518 

 do. Portsmouth to Portland, 104 

 do. Lowell, Nashua, and Con- 

 cord, C2 

 do. to Providence, 41 

 From Providence to Stonington, 47 

 Branch from Andover to Haverhill, 25 1-2 

 Dedham branch, 2 

 Taunton branch, and extension to New Bed- 

 ford, ' 35 

 Bedford and Fall River, 13 

 Norwich and Worcester, 58 1-2 

 New Haven to Hartford, 3f), and extension 



to Springfield, 24 miles, not completed, fiO 



West Stockbridge to Bridgeport, 1)8 



West Stockbridge to Hudson, 33 



Troy to Schenectady, 22 



Troy to Ballston, 20 



Schenectady and Saratoga, 21 



Lockport, Niagara Falls, and Buffalo, 43 



M 



— Railroad Journal, 



lies. 



1,203 



Essex .Agricultural Society. — The premiums offer- 

 ed by this Society for the best cultivated farm of 

 not less than fifty acres, exclusive of woodland, re- 

 gard being had to particular improvements within 

 a few years past, the quantity of produce, the ma- 

 nure, and expense of cultivation, with a statement 

 in writing of all facta in relation to the same, are : 



1st premium. Thirty dollars, 



2d premium. Fifteen dollars. 



The annual Cattle Show of the Society will take 

 place at Andover, on the last Wednesday of Sep- 

 tember next. Address by Hon. Leverett Salton- 

 stall. 



To get rich. — Nothing is easier, says Mr Paul- 

 ding, than to grow rich. It is only to trust nobody, 

 to befriend none, to get everything, and save all 

 we get, to stint ourselves and everybody belonging 

 to us, to be the friend of no man, and to have no 

 man our friend ; to heap interest upon interest, 

 cent upon cent ; to be mean, miserable and despis- 

 ed for some twenty or thirty years, and riches will 

 come as sure as disease and disappointment. Such 

 people live without enjoyment, without having 

 done any good to their kind, and die despised. 



.'? Mother's Love.^A writer beautifully remarks 

 that a man's mother is the representative of his 

 Maker. Misfortune, and even crime, set up no 

 barriers between her and her son. Whilst his 

 mother lives, he will have one friend on earth who 

 will not desert him, who will not listen when he 

 is slandered, who will solace him in his sorrow, 

 and cheer him with hope when he is ready to de- 

 spair. Her affection knows no ebbing tide. It 

 flows from a pure fountain, spreading happiness 

 through all this vale of tears, and ceases only at 

 the ocean of eternity. — Selected. 



Ages of Distinguished Men. — Messrs. Van Buren, 

 Calhoun, Johnson and Cass, were born in 1762. 

 Mr Webster was born the same year. They are 

 now, therefore, Gl years of age. Mr Clay was born 

 in 1777, Mr Tyler in 1790, John Quincy Adams in 

 1707. — Exch. pap. 



