CHARACTERS OF GOOD MALTING BARLEY 511 



Soil and Climate. — The northern parts of the country are 

 usually too wet for the production of mealy grains, but in the 

 eastern and south-eastern counties of England the best malting 

 barleys of the world are grown. In hot, dry continental climates 

 the grain is usually ' thin ' and flinty. 



Barley grows most satisfactorily upon light soils ; sandy and 

 calcareous loams free from excess of nitrogenous manures are 

 best. 



Sowing. — 'Seed' should be drilled as early as possible in 

 February or March in order to give the plant plenty of time 

 for ' assimilation ' previous to the building up of a well-nourished 

 grain. 



In some favourable districts barley may be sown in January 

 but the greater amount is sown in early March. 



The amount drilled is from 2 to 3 bushels per acre, the larger 

 quantity being used on thin soils. 



Yield. — The average yfeld is 32 bushels per acre ; as much as 

 60 bushels are occasionally obtained. 



Composition. — Barley grains contain on an average 14 per 

 cent, of water, 66 per cent, of soluble carbohydrates, 10^ per 

 cent, of proteids, and 5 per cent, of ' fibre.' 



Ex. 262. — Examine an ear of six-rowed, four-rowed, and two-rowed barley 

 respectively. 



Observe the arrangement of the spikelets on the rachis and the number 

 and character of the flowers — whether unisexual or bisexual in each. 



Ex. 263. — Observe at intervals the growth of the caryopsis between the 

 glumes of a barley floret from the time just after the ear emerges from the 

 leaf-sheath up to the time when the grain is ripe. Is the caryopsis always 

 united with the glumes ? 



Ex. 264. — Cut off the awns from some ears of barley when very young and 

 compare their growth with those of uninjured ears growing near them. 



Ex. 265. — The student should examine and thoroughly master the details 01 

 the grains of different races and sub-races of barley. 



Note the base of the grain, the rachilla, and also the lodicules of the 

 flower which are easily dissected from soaked grains. 



