favourable for the Grotcth of tieed. 
59 
The use of the drill is very generally preferred for sowing barley 
to every other mode ; and for early sowings on light soil is par- 
ticularly desirable, because it gives an opportunity for hoeing the 
ground before the clover-seeds are sown. Upon the stronger 
description of land a very large ])roportion is sown broad-cast, 
because thus there is less compression of the soil, and a larger 
breadth can be quickly sown, just when the land is in the best 
condition to receive it. The usual quantity of seed sown is from 
2^ to 3 bushels per acre, but upon soils of inferior quality as 
much as 4 bushels per acre are sometimes used. For late sowings 
the quantity is increased, because the plants have less time to 
establish themselves, so as to produce a sufficient plant. 
The difference of seasons has a greater influence upon barley 
than upon any of our corn-crops ; for sometimes the early- 
sown crops are the best, and at other times the last sowing 
excels all the others. This generally arises from the alterations 
produced in the mechanical condition of the land. If, for in- 
stance, a piece of land has been well prepared for barley and 
brought to that degree of fineness which is so desirable for it, 
and after the sowing a long continuance of wet weather sets 
in, it is more than probable that the soil will run together and 
form a crust, alike unfavourable to the germination of the seed 
and the subsequent growth of the plant. On another piece of 
land of a similar character sown perhaps a month later, but not 
thus prejudiced by the weather, the seed grows freely, the plant 
continues to flourish up to the time of the harvest, and produces 
a decidedly better crop. If this were a constant result the diffi- 
culty would easily be overcome by a later sowing, but next 
season possibly the circumstances may be reversed ; dry weather 
may favour the rapid growth of the early sowings and delay the 
germination and general development of the late-sown barley. 
The time of sowing may be stated as including the month of 
April ; in some cases commencing a little earlier, and in others 
being prolonged beyond that period. 
The depth for sowing the seed is not subject to the same 
variations as in the case of wheat ; one inch may be considered 
sufficient in all soils to secure its healthy germination. The 
condition in which the land is to be left after the sowing in 
some measure depends upon the time of performing that opera- 
tion. When the barley is put in early, the land may be well 
harrowed and left without rolling ; but as the later sowings 
are generally accompanied by the clover-seed, these are harrowed 
and rolled to a fine surface. The object in leaving the one 
unrolled is to prevent the surface from running together after 
rain. In the latter case there is less risk on this account, as 
most of the stormy rains of April are by this time passed. 
