456 



On the Management of Barley. 



lized for barley it will also tell upon the clover, and this again on 

 the wheat crop. 



The plough is mostly used in the Wold districts for breaking 

 up the turnip land after feeding sheep. The land thus remains 

 until seed-time approaches, when it is dragged and harrowed, and 

 the seed occasionally drilled. In many instances the seed is sown 

 broadcast, and then well dragged in with the scarifier. The 

 objections to this plan, which I have previously alluded to, are, 

 however, becoming apparent, and the drill is more frequently seen 

 than formerly. From 10 to 12 pecks per acre are usually sown. 

 The general seed-time varies, from the first week in March to the 

 end of April. 



The Norfolk system of storing Swede turnips has been already 

 alluded to, and I will now endeavour to describe the different 

 plans of growing barley generally adopted in that county. In 

 addition to the growth of a large breadth of Swedes, the most 

 spirited farmers consume a large quantity of linseed cake, crushed 

 barley, or peas, with their feeding sheep ; and it may here be right 

 to notice one circumstance connected with this practice, which I 

 think must be admitted to be true, viz., that although the produce 

 per acre of the barley crop may be increased, it is yet thought that 

 the quality is somewhat deteriorated, perhaps, however, not to such 

 an extent, but that the increase in produce more than makes up 

 for any deficiency in price. To this system, perhaps more than 

 any other, is to be ascribed the fertility and corn producing capa- 

 bility of some of the worst lands of West Norfolk. I believe also 

 it is universally allowed that the above is by far the best and 

 cheapest mode of bringing a poor farm into a state of high culti- 

 vation. The cake passing through the animal, an increase of 

 mutton is added to the increase of corn, and the cost of artificial 

 manure is thus doubly paid for. It is usual to draw off a larger 

 proportion of the root crop for consumption in the yards by oxen, 

 from those fields where the fatting and cake-consuming sheep are 

 intended to be fed. 



The system of ploughing twice for barley very generally 

 prevails in Norfolk. Experience has invariably shown that 

 more barley can be grown from twice ploughing than from once. 

 By the former system, the manure of the feeding sheep is more 

 equally and intimately mixed with the soil than when it is merely 

 turned over once ; and, of course, the greater part of it left at 

 the bottom of the furrow. As the last ploughing generally takes 

 place immediately before sowing, a lighter, kinder, and more 

 genial seed-bed is also obtained than when sowing takes place on 

 the dead surface of land ploughed up many weeks previously. 

 It is, however, frequently found that in all soils, except those of 

 the lightest and most sandy character, the use of the plough in 



