It is equal to corn in feeding value for young stock, although corn 
is superior for fattening. Barley is more easily digested than oats 
by swine and poultry because of lower fiber content. It may also be 
used for late fall pasture. Spring barley for hay should be com- 
bined with field peas or vetch. 
Barley is a better companion crop with legume and grass seedings 
than wheat or oats for grain as it is harvested earlier and competes 
less for soil moisture than oats. It thrives best in a cool humid 
climate, but will stand heat better than oats. It is more sensitive 
to soil variations and nutritive deficiencies than oats or wheat and 
demands a well-drained soil, but does not thrive on sand. 
Eastern States Varieties 
The Eastern States Farmers’ Exchange distributes Wisconsin 
#38 and Selected Spring Barley. 
Wisconsin #38 has strong, stiff, tall straw and white kernels in six 
row heads. It is a heavy grain yielder and somewhat resistant to 
smut. The smooth beards break off readily in threshing, leaving a 
clean, attractive grain suitable for feed or malt. 
Eastern States seed is treated with an organic mercury dust for the 
control of seed-borne diseases. 
CULTURAL SUGGESTIONS FOR SPRING GRAINS 
First choose the kind and variety best suited to your conditions of 
soil, climate and intended use. (Read descriptions of varieties 
available. ) : 
Plan to plant early in the spring to avoid as much hot, dry weather 
as possible. 
Prepare a firm well-settled seedbed with 2 or 3 inches of loose 
mellow soil on the surface. This can be done by early spring discing 
only if soil is free from weeds, or by fall plowing and early spring 
discing or by very early, shallow spring plowing followed by the use 
of cultipacker, roller, and disc or spring tooth harrow. Late, deep 
spring plowing does not make for a desirable seedbed for spring 
grains. 
Be sure seed is evenly sized, free from weed seeds and inert matter, 
of high germination and vitality and treated for control of smut if 
planted for the production of grain. 
Drilling is the best method of sowing. The best depth of planting 
depends on the nature of the soil and its moisture content. With 
abundant moisture on heavier types of soil 1 to 11% inches is suffi- 
cient. On lighter soils which lose their moisture easily 114 to 24% 
inches may not be too deep. 

