554 Teansactioxs of the American Institute. 



costs the other half to gather the crop ; mowing and reaping machines 

 being entirely useless for that purpose. Thus, one of our most remu- 

 nerative crops has become the least so. If any member of the Farm- 

 ers' Club, or any reader of its proceedings, can give satisfactory 

 answers to the following inquiries, they will greatly oblige the sub- 

 scriber, with many others. 



1st. "Which is the best season for sowing barley, fall or spring ? 

 2d. Are there two kinds of barley,, one for each season ? 3d. Can it 

 be sown as the next crop after corn (the same as oats), at either 

 season? -Ith. How much seed is required per acre? 5th. If sown in 

 the spring does it require less, or longer time to ripen than oats ? 

 6th. If they ripen simultaneously, how will it answer to mix theni for 

 the purpose of crossing the stiffer straw of the barley to hold up the 

 oats and prevent its falling? 7th. In what proportions of each 

 should the seed be mixed ? We sow from two and one-half to three 

 bushels of oats to the acre. 8th. Is barley a suitable substitute for 

 oats, as a food for stock ? 



Mr. W. S. Carpenter. — There are two kinds of barley, spring and 

 fall ; the fall barley is not so sure, being more liable to winter-kill 

 than the spring. He sowed from two to two and one-half bushels per 

 acre. It yields about like wheat, and ripens two weeks later. Bar- 

 ley requires better land for a fair crop than oats. Don't sow on poor 

 soil. 



S. E. Todd. — Barley may be sown with success on soil capable of 

 producing paying crops of corn or oats. It requires thorough tillage 

 and clean culture. Winter barley may be sown in September or 

 October, after Indian corn ; but I would advise the sowing of barley 

 in spring. Barley and oats may be grown together ; but they must 

 be early oats, in order that the tM'o crops may ripen about the same 

 time. The barley most inquired for is the four-rowed variety ; from 

 two to three bushels of seed are required per acre, and it should be 

 put in with a drill. If the straw is liable to be limber, and not suffi- 

 ciently stiff to maintain an erect position, the best remedy is to plow 

 the land deeper than usual, and sow large quantities of ashes imme- 

 diately after the seed is put in. If the land be low and rather wet, 

 a bountiful crop of barley cannot be produced until the soil is 

 relieved of the surplus water. If under-draining cannot be done at 

 once, let the plowing be done with narrow lands, throwing up ridges 

 and making deep middle furrows. A great many wet fields may be 

 rendered comparatively dry by making deep dead furrows alout 



