Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-06-02
AGRICULTURAL.
Iron the American Agricullutisl.1
CULTIVATION DE BARLEY.

Quantity produced in the United States
Barley, though coextensive in its cultivation
with the first settlement Of Virginia and the
other Colonies, has never reached very large
crop. The product of the entire Union in 1850,
but little exceeded 5000 900 bushels The
increasing demand within the past few years,
owing 10 the large immigration Of beer consul
ming Germans and other foreigners, has, how
ever, largely stimulated the consumption of bar
ley in this country The growth has been in
creased here about % per cent. between 1910
and So and its progress is still onward, as is
shown by the rapid advance of price in all the
American markets.
Its Uses.-Barley, till within few years,
has been almost wholly used as food for our
domestic animals. Pigs have had the greater
share of il, consisting, when mixed with Indian
corn and ground, considerable proportion of
their fatiening material in such sections as pro-
duce lit has 10. some extent heen fed 10
are generally preferred and for latter, corn; as
barley is thought to increase their inclination TO
breeding. 1t has never been much used for
human food among us, albeit it had great rep
uiation among the ancient Greeks and the
neighboring cultivated nations of antiquity
Its use in modern times as food, is more gener-
ally limited to the Nomadic and half civilized
nations, such as the Arabs, Tartar, and other
Eastern nations. The most highly civilized,
as England, Scotland, Germany, &c, however
make immense use of it for mailing and con-
version into beer, ale, &c.
In this mode of consumption, we think the
COWS get the best part of the barley, (liule as
it ISL in the shape Of the brewers grains,
which is the residium after extracting all that
is convertible into the fermenied, yinous, al
cohoic mass, which is destined to middle the
brains of the beer bbbers. When ground,
barley is an exec llent food for lattening pigs
and milk cows, producing large flow of milk
though by its stimulating properties, some as
cribe an injurious effect TO the tactical vessels
and glands. This grain is also much used as
pearl barley for soups, and as light and
wholesome diet for invalids As compared
with wheat, its nutriIive average is about as 90
Of barley to 70 Of wheat.
Varieties primary varieties have
been culiivated-the six, the four, and the two
rJwed, win numerous Subdivisions Of tho To,
ter. The former is ianciful type of this grain
and is seldom sown and the two rowed has
proved itself so greatly superior TO the four,
that it is almost the only kind cultivated
The foqr rowed is known in many parts Of
Great Britain as Beare or Bigg-a name scarce
ly introduced into the nomenclature Of Ameri-
can farmers. There are some winter varieties
of barley, which are hardy enough to withstand
the severe cold of winter. Among these the
Siberian is generally esteemed the best. All
barley, like oats will bear the light frost of our
Southern States, and with them il is generally
made winter grain. 1t is sown in October
or November, and grows rapidly under the gen
ial skies and autumnal rains of those warm
elimes, and affords excellent winter pasturage
for sheep, or it may be cut and carried of the
ground for green fodder.
Soil.-There is no use in attempting 10 raise
good crop of barley on poor soil. II your
field is not in good condition, better SOW to oats
or manure it and put in corn, or something
else. sandy or hungry gravel is not sol
to bear good barley. Good deep mellow loan
is the best for this grain but strong clay wei
pulyerized and dry will yield an excellent crop
Clmate,-Barley does best in temperate
latitude, say within those States, between 3s
deg. and 43 deg. But barley is susceptible oil
acclimation in high northern latitude. Ii ha:
been successfully grown in Europe as far NORTH
as 70 deg. and on the Himmaleh mountains il
Asia, 10000 to l2 900 feet above the level O
Underwater. The product, however, in thesl
instances, is small, and is only in a good soil
suitable climate, and with deep and thorough
iilage, large crop of barley may be expect
ed
Flowing and preparing of the Ground. -
Deep and thorough blowing and narrowing il
absolutely requisite for luxuriant growth o
barley. If either cloddy or light soil, the heay,
roller must also be aided.
Sowing and Quantity of Seed per Acre.
Sowing broadcast is the almost universal rule
in this country though in the use of the see,
drill there would be equal economy Of seed
with other advantages similar, but of not equa
extent Of other grain.