SOWING BARLEY 221 



the ground to become thoroughly settled. Where winter 

 barley follows cowpeas cut for hay, a good seed bed can be 

 prepared by disking and harrowing without plowing. The 

 essential thing is to have the surface soil fine and mellow 

 and the subsoil firm. 



265. Preparing the Seed for Sowing. Thorough grad- 

 ing and cleaning of the seed is particularly essential to success 



H * t HI 



M I'M Ml 



i M i I * 



Fig. 75. Barley grains; upper row, six-rowed hulled; center row, two-rowed 

 hulled; lower row, hull-less or naked. 



in barley culture. This is more necessary with the six- 

 rowed varieties than with the two-rowed, since the lateral 

 grains of the six-rowed are often much smaller than the 

 median ones and are not fully developed. Only the largest 

 and plumpest seed should be sown, in order to obtain quick 

 germination, strong growth, and an even stand. Even- 



