The Agriculture of Pembrokeshire. 
85 
bound in sheaves, and made into small mows, each containing 
some 30 or more sheaves, and left for two or three weeks in the 
field to mature and dry. 
Barley. — Barley, which in point of acreage now occupies the 
next place to oats, was formerly a much more important crop. 
Not only was this cereal used for bread and malting, as well as 
for feeding purposes at home, but large quantities were exported 
to Bristol and other markets. Very excellent quality grain is 
grown in the county, more especially on the trap-soils, though 
the cold and damp seasons which occurred about 1879 and 1880 
very much affected the quality as well as the quantity. 
This crop usually follows oats or roots, though on the trap- 
soils it is sometimes the first crop after ley, and it is often sown 
year after year on the same land ; it is also the crop most 
favoured with which to sow grass-seeds. When this is the 
second white crop in succession, it is usual to apply about 6 cwt. 
of " dissolved bones," or rather more of " superphosphate " to the 
acre as manure. It is usual to drill in this crop, and about 
3 bushels of seed are used. The cutting, binding, and mowing 
are much the same as for oats, and the average produce is from 
35 to 45 bushels per acre, weighing 50 lbs. to 58 lbs. per bushel 
over the best land. 
The usual time of sowing barley is from about the middle of 
April to the first of May, and of cutting, from about the middle 
to the end of August. 
Wheat. — Wheat is a crop that does not appear to have ever 
been grown largely in this county ; and in recent years, since 
the price has fallen so much, it is grown more for the sake of 
the straw than any other reason. It generally follows a root- 
crop, though formerly twelvemonths' bare fallow after breaking 
up ley was the correct course. No manure is applied, it being 
usual to manure the roots largely in anticipation of this crop. 
The custom of sowing wheat on ridges is now pretty well 
obsolete, and a considerable portion of that sown is spring- 
wheat. The varieties grown are many : Red Lammas was 
formerly a great favourite, and still finds friends ; Red Chaff 
\\ hite, Golden Drop, Browick, and, in the more exposed parts, 
Red Hairy or Bearded, &c. The seed is drilled in at the rate 
of about 2 bushels to the acre, and the yield averages from 20 
to 30 bushels, though on the better limestone-land it is usually 
nearer 40 bushels. This crop is generally cut with a scythe 
and cradle, and, after binding, is made — if the weather is 
fine — into similar mows to oats and barley. If it is bad 
weather, and the crop has been beaten down and damp, what 
are called stooks are made, and these stooks are very different 
to what are known as wheat-stooks in England. About six 
