The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-20

is sown. In the southern states sowings
can be made at any time from Septem-
Der on to and through November. but
the middle of September Is perhaps the
best time for most sections.
Feeding Value.
Many farmers inquire as to how bar
ley may be fed. There are many ways.
Barley may be used as a soiling crop, it
may be cut for hay before the boards
are ripe enough to effect stock or It
NAV be thrashed and fed to stock the
same as oats or other grains. Barley
meal Is fine to use in making a bal
anced ration for all stock, especially 50
for milk cows. Barley contains about
20 per cent of the feeding value of our
common corn, so that the farmer who
is growing only from ten to thirty bush
els of corn per acre. against 10 10 80
bushels OF barley can easily figure out
what he is losing in growing the corn
He should also take into account that
the corn occupies the land the greater
nart of tbe year, while the barley can
he harvested early and from one 10
three tons of fine hay grown on the
same land
BARLEY is a very hardy plant and is
practically free from rust or disease of
any kind. which cannot be said oil wheat
or oats, while the winter oat Is scarcely
ever erected by rust, yet It is far more
subieet To rust than winter barley How
ever, the rust in any grain depends
largely upon the physical conditions OF
the soil Barley will grow in higher
altitude than any other OF our grains,
in fact altitude does not seem 10 eheet
it, as 1t is grown from sea lever up 10
almost the snow line, ten thousand feet
above sea level.
sbe1l always remember the beauti-
frl sIpht and most remarkable expert
enca I had in Mexico. One morning l
started out early, passing out from the
coast toward old Mount Arwyaba, traY-
cling through sugar, coffee, oranges, CO.
coanut and other plantations of tropi-
cal fruits When we were out apout
one hundred miles from the coast the
coffee plantations gave out, the sugar
helde became scarcer ana scafeef IN
tn finally they became thing OF the
mast Then we came to fields OF TOBACCO
corn rye, oats, wheat and barley AFTER
another fifty miles we began 10 ehinp
tbe mountains. The tobacco gave out,
then the corn. wheat oats, leaving only
crons Of rye and barley. AS we climbed
higher and higher the rye began to give
| o,,t and finally nothing was left but the
harley which continued to grow on up
to the timber line.
This season, only few weeks ago,
found harley out in Northwest can
! ada. climbing the Rockies, While no oth-
/ or grains were to be seen.
/ oTr farmers have never seemed to
I hayA recognized the value OF barley as
thew should In California and rev
other states the feeding value OF barley
has been fully recognized Tor many
years. , -. r..
a,.,, states found winter barley grow
no IN In the Alleghanies in Pennsylva-
no Tn sections of both Texas and
Kansas I found it being grown with
great success and in both sections 1t Is
taking the place of the oat crop.
Preparation of Soils.
This Is the season when soils should be
nrepared for receiving seed of winter
grains. cannot give any ironclad rule Tor
this work from the fact that conditions
change. What might prove a success on
one soil might prove failure on another
so we will only give general outline
and the reader must draw MS own con-
illusions as to what would be best IN MS
individual case.
Where soils do not have sufficient natu-
raj drainage, some artificial system OF
drainage must be employed. Usually TOUT
inch tile will answer the purpose open
bitches should be avoided If possiple.
Again, many soils are sour, the SUB
soil full of acidity; drainage and sub-soll-
ing Will correct this condition Nearly
ali soils need fertilizing and only the best
brands of fertilizers should be used. Inc
soil should be broken for winter grains
during July and August. Before the SOIL
becomes dry from breaking, harrow me
and harrow regularly at least once every
week until ready to SOW the seed. SEED
may be sown either with seed drill OF
by hand, according to the conditions Oh
the soil. However, seeding should never
be done while the soil Is wet Dust In
the grains If possible
Don't pasture your crops when the SOIL
is vet or pasture your winter crops TO
DEATH as is so often the case. Where pas
ture is wanted, sow for pasture, but IL
winter grains are sown for grain, keep the
stock off unless you fully understand the
matter Of pasturing winter grains.
BY closely following out these outlines,
one is almost sure to succeed with win
ter crops. However, this very important
subject will be continued next week when
some other grains and grasses, which can
be grown in the winter. will be consid-
cred