MONOCOTYLEDONS 267 
others (Fig. 263). It is extensively cultivated in Northern 
Europe; and Russia is the greatest rye-producing country 
in the world, producing more bushels of rye than the United 
States produces bushels of wheat. The rye crop of the 
United States is very small comparatively, being less than 
one-twenty-fifth as large as the wheat crop, and less than 
one-thirtieth as large as the oat crop. Rye can grow in 
regions too cold for wheat and on 
soils too poor for any other grain; 
in fact it does not thrive well in 
rich soils. There are spring and 
winter varieties. The latter is the 
one chiefly cultivated, being sown 
in the fall and harvested usually in 
June. 
Barley.—This is one of the most 
ancient of cereals in cultivation; 
and, as it grows wild in western 
Asia, this is thought to be its 
original home (Fig. 264). It grows 
through a greater range of lati- 
tude than any other cereal, its cul- 
tivation extending from Iceland 
and Norway to India. It demands 
in general the well-prepared and 
well-drained soil necessary for 
wheat. Its growing period is L \ i 
shorter than that of wheat, for Fis. 264.—Barley.—After En- 
P GLER and PRANTL. 
it is very common to sow it after 
and to harvest it just before spring wheat. In the United 
States the barley crop in 1899 was nearly three times as 
great as that of rye, California producing more than one- 
fourth of it, and Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin following 
in order. While barley is used in feeding, as grain, hay, 
and straw, its most conspicuous use is by brewers in the 
iin 
