SOILS FOR BARLEY 219 



yield to the acre in California was 25.7 bushels; in Minne- 

 sota, 24.7 bushels; and in Wisconsin, 28.3 bushels. 



Barley occupies a more important position in California 

 than in any other state, 10.73 per cent of the improved farm 

 land being planted to this crop, as shown in the accompany- 

 ing diagram (Fig. 74). It ranks next in importance in 

 Minnesota, occupying about one-sixteenth of the improved 

 farm area, or about one-half as much land as is annually 

 planted to oats in that state. In Wisconsin, the area planted 

 to oats is nearly four times as large as that planted to barley. 

 Only 1.4 per cent of the entire farm area of the United States 



CALIF. 



MINN, mmmuf^tmmammi^^mmmmmmmm 6.48% 



WIS . MHHHi^^BMHMMHHHM 



5.43. % 



KAHS.mmm 0.77 / 



Fig. 74. Percentage of improved farm land annually sown to barley in the 

 states of largest production, and in the United States, 1902-1911. 



is devoted to barley, as compared with 21.86 per cent to 

 corn, 10.47 per cent to wheat, and 7.13 per cent to oats. 



THE PRODUCTION OF THE CROP 



262. Soils Adapted to Barley Production. The best soil 

 for barley is a well-drained loam. Good drainage and a 

 reasonably fertile soil are essential to its successful growth; 

 it does not ordinarily do well on heavy clays nor on light, 

 sandy lands. It is extensively grown on soils of a volcanic 

 origin in the Northwest. Barley grows better on alkali 

 soils than any of the other small grains, and is sometimes used 

 to reduce the quantity of soluble salts in the soil before sow- 



