74 



SOUTUEEN FIELD CHOPS 



Tye on a field where there has not before been ergot on rj^e, 

 nor on any of the related wild grasses. Fortunately, ergot 

 is not very common in the South. 



II. BARLEY 



HOHDEUM SATIVUM 



Barley is an annual grain of comparatively slight im- 

 portance in the cotton-belt. In regions where it is grown 

 for seed production, the grain is utilized chiefly in the pro- 

 duction of beer, and great pains is taken to produce a 

 grain of the highest ciualitj' and free 

 from weather stain or other injur j-. 



The chief use of barlej- in the South 

 is for jjasturage and as a soiling plant. 

 It is sown in the same way as rj-e. 

 Green barley is considered to be more 

 palatal)le than pastures of any of the 

 other small grains, but the amount of 

 pasturage jjer acre is usually smaller 

 than that from rye. 



75. Description. — Barlej' has the 

 shortest straw of anj^ of the small 

 grains. The heads are usually armed 

 with strong, long, spreading l^eards, 

 that grow from the tips of the glumes 

 (Fig. 27). In spite of this objection, 

 barley is used in California as a hay 

 plant, but its use necessitates the 

 frequent removal of the beards from 

 the gums of the horses consuming it. 

 The clasps at the junction of leaf- 

 sheath and leaf-blade are larger on 



Fig. 27. — A Head and 

 Grains of Be.vhded 

 Barley. 



