346 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 May, 1900. 
the winter, just existing, making very little growth until the weather 
commences to get warm, when it grows very fast; but it must go via 
the chrysalis stage again in order that the latter may produce wigs 
moth in, say, November, and the time when the caterpillar must 8? — 
into the chrysalis stage is early in October; and it is just be eg 4 
this stage that it is most destructive, attacking not only the foliage but the gray 
itself. My own observation shows that, while destructive at: all times, it does 
not like its food particularly green, and will always attack the more ripene 
portion of the crop in preference. Briefly summarising the foregoing facts, } 
would tend to show that the caterpillar disappears some time early in October, 
and the crop, if made to ripen in November, is in a fairly green state in October 
and the damage from the caterpillar would be considerably minimised. 
would, perhaps, be interesting to many readers to show further the “life _histony 
of the caterpillar, but, as this is an article on barley-growing, space in YoU 
Journal forbids. al 
The remaining reason—why the crop is better ripening in November ] 
one that is, let us hope, remote, but should be taken into consideration. Ire jae j 
to the frosts which occurred on the first days of October, 1899. Most of the ae | 
crops were in a forward state and suffered accordingly. the nd 
It is a great risk to sow after the end of June. Firstly, on account of ive 
possibility of dry weather; and, secondly, the crop will ripen too late, as a 
strong sun in the latter end of November seems to shrivel the grain We 
ripening. 
Carle gt — ee — a (eg) Ze 
-—_- 
WHAT SEED TO SOW. 
Many growers assert that screenings of barley, or inferior barley, are got 
enough for seed, and base their assertion on the fact that at some time or ot aisle 
a good crop has been reaped from inferior seed. This may be so, but, ® i 
general rule, the best obtainable seed should be sown; it is false economy ia 
buy cheap or inferior seed. 
ol a a 
Oo 
LAND ON WHICH TO SOW. 
On making inquiry of the growers of our best barleys what sort of He 
the crop was grown on, the invariable reply was, “ Loamy soils.” In_ hot, ‘ v4 
seasons, heavy black soil may produce a good barley, but, generally speaking i 
barley grown on heavy black soil will produce unkind, steely grain, 0% he 
brewing language, “ over-rich in protein bodies” and lacking in er - 
Growers can easily see for themselves, in cutting a grain across, whether iv 
inside looks hard or glassy, like a grain of rice, or whether it is a soft W Ai i 
colour, like flour, and mellow; the latter is what the maltster likes, and of 4 
result is mostly due to the land on which the grain is grown. Glassiness Pye 
the interior of the grain is an indication of the crop having been growl. on” 
soil too rich in nitrogen. ot oe 
Corduroy lands are not the best for barley, as the crop ripens sooner ! 
the ridges of the corduroy than in the valleys, thus giving an unequal snore fi 
which is never satisfactory to the maltster or to the grower. It is most esse? ra 
to the maltster for the grain to ripen evenly on the malting floors, as, unles*™ a 
does so, bad malt will be the result. te if i 
ong oe fo 4 2 
7— SS) fF — 
TIME TO REAP. 
Considerable difference of opinion exists on this point. My own 0 oe i 
is—Cut it when ripe, and, if anything, err on the side of over-ripeness. ¢ - 
cut before it is ripe always grows badly, frequently turns mouldy 0 el 
maltster’s floor, and has a strong tendency to heat in the stack and store, ied 
ea often showing a burnt end. Such barley may be detected by its shrivey™ 
usk, want of plumpness, and most of all by its greenish colour. ors a 
Malt made from under-ripe barley gives an acidity to beer, which brew pee 
strongly object to. It is a difficult matter to advise, on paper, the exact Bah 
at which to cut. If left too long, a hot, strong wind may come, which WO" 
