BARLEY. 



29 



when the leaves are entirely free from dew or moisture ; 

 then dry rapidly in the shade, or better in an oven ; and 

 when cool press the herbage into packages, and wrap them 

 up in white paper till wanted for use. Keep the packages 

 dry, and in a close drawer." — Loudon, 



Use, — Formerly the balm was held in very high esti- 

 mation : Paracelsus supposed it to possess virtues, by which 

 human life could be prolonged beyond the usual period. In 

 modern times, however, the properties of this agreeable 

 plant are better understood : it yields, by distillation, a 

 small proportion of an essential oil, of a yellowish colour, 

 and a very grateful smell. A few drops of this oil, diluted 

 in a glass of simple water, or strong infusions of the young 

 shoots, drank as tea, and continued for several weeks or 

 months, have proved of service to nervous and hypochondri- 

 acal patients, of a lax and debilitated habit. Either of these 

 liquid preparations, when slightly acidulated with lemon 

 juice, acquire a fine reddish colour, and may be taken with 

 advantage in dry, parching fevers, as well as in cases of dis- 

 tressing flatulency, attended with eructations, where the 

 first passages have previously been opened." — Dom, Ency. 

 vol. i. p. 127. 



BARLEY. — Hordeum. — The following remarks on the 

 cultivation of this grain are extracted from an article written 

 by Jesse Buel, Esq., published in the N, E, Farmer^ vol. v. 

 p. 290 :— 



" The soil for barley should be such as will grow good 

 turnips, or other green crops, including clovers, and which 

 embrace the varieties of loams and sands that are not wet, 

 or very dry and poor. Indeed, I have taken my crops, and 

 they have been pretty good, from my lightest turnip soils. 

 Barley cannot be cultivated to advantage upon stiff, heavy, 

 and wet grounds, or on such as are of a cold and tenacious 

 quality. This crop occupies the ground but about three 

 months ; and it is only in a dry, light, mellow soil, that its 

 roots can extend with sufficient facility, and supply the food 

 necessary to bring the grain to rapid and perfect maturity. 



" Previous crop, — Crops that precede this grain should 

 be such as leave the ground mellow, and free from weeds; 

 and for this reason hoed crops are to be preferred, such as 

 turnips, potatoes, peas, beans, &c. Small grains should 

 not precede it : they impoverish the soil, leave it foul, and, 



