BARLEY 351 



yielder. Among the types which retain the hull, there are 

 a few beardless varieties. They mature much earlier than 

 the bearded sorts, but yield poorly and are extremely ten- 

 der, necessitating sowing after Christmas, even in the 

 central part of the Gulf states. 



433. Climate. — Barley is successfully cultivated in 

 a very wide range of climate. While it is successfully 

 produced in cold climates and regions of abundant rains 

 it is best adapted to a warm, dry climate. It usually 

 matures in less time than oats or spring wheat. 



434. Soil, fertilizers, and rotation. — The root-growth 

 of barley is less abundant than- that of wheat, oats, or rye. 

 It is therefore necessary to sow barley on land that is in a 

 high state of fertility. A rich clay loam usually gives best 

 results. The limestone, soils, when well drained give 

 excellent results with barley. The character of fertiliza- 

 tion required will be governed largely by the fertility 

 needs of the particular soil in question. Well-rotted 

 barnyard manure usually gives excellent results. The 

 need for commercial fertilizers is the same as for 



t 



wheat. 



Barley should never be grown continuously on the same 

 land. In the cotton-belt it most often follows corn. More 

 care should be given to the preparation of the seed-bed 

 than for oats or rye. In the cotton-belt barley will easily 

 occupy a position in the rotation similar to wheat. 



435. Sowing. — In the cotton-belt the greater part 

 of the barley crop is sown in October and November. In 

 the central part of the Gulf states it may be sown at any 

 date between September 1st and December 1st. When 

 sown broadcast for pasture, 23^^ bushels of seed to the ^cre 

 are advisable. For the production of grain, IJ^ to 2 

 bushels to the acre are usually sown. These amounts are 



