S04 CULTIVATED BARLEYS 



the brown free caryopses somewhat resembling rather large 

 pointed wheat grains. 



Race III. Two-rowed Barley (Hordeum sativum distichon 

 = Hordeum distichon L.) (Fig. i6i). — In the two-rowed race 

 only the middle spikelet of each triplet is fertile, the lateral 

 spikelets being barren (male-flowered)j the ear, therefore, possesses 

 only two longitudinal rows of grain. 



This race is the one most commonly grown in the British Isles 

 and on the Continent, and comprises a considerable number 

 of sub-races and varieties among which are the finest malting 

 barleys. When not sufficiently good either in composition or 

 colour to be used for malting, the grain is a valuable food for 

 stock. 



Several fairly distinct sub-races of Two-rowed Barley are met 

 with of which the following are the chief : — 



Sub-race I. Peacock, Battledore, Sprat, or Fan Barley, 

 formerly described as a species, viz., Hordeum Zeocriton L. The 

 straw is stiff and the ears erect and short, about 2\ inches long, 

 broad at the base and narrow at the tip {A, Fig. i6i). Except 

 the lower ones of the spike, the grains are thin and of poor 

 quality, with long spreading awns. The whole ear has a fanci- 

 ful resemblance to an outspread peacock's tail or fan, hence the 

 name peacock, fan, and battledore barley applied to it It is of 

 little agricultural importance. 



Sub-Race II. Broad Erect-eared Barleys {Hordeum distichon 

 erectum). — In this sub-race the ears are erect and broad, with 

 plump grains closely packed on the rachis {B, Fig. i6i). The 

 straw is stiff, and on this account barleys belonging to this sub- 

 race are useful for growing on somewhat heavily-manured soils 

 where the danger of ' lodging ' is great for the finer Chevalier 

 variety. 



The grain, although of excellent form and size, usually pos- 

 sesses a higher proteid-content than is suitable for the production 

 of the best malt ; nevertheless in exhibitions of malting-barley 



