Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-12
WINTER BARLEY IN GEORGIA

As much attention has not been giver
IN the south to the cultivation OF ce-
reals as the importance OF the subjeot
merits. for these GRIPS may be made
70 supply the greater part OF the grain
needed for the maintenance OF our work
stock Al quite as low cost as corn. In
fact. as wiDter cereals may be sown az
ter corn or cotton and removed from the
land IN time 70 plant It IN cowpeas OF
soy beans. Il is doubtful IL they do not
produce. relatively speaking. consider
ably cheaper grain feed than corn.
Moreover. oats and barley are known to
be very satisfactory grains to feed 70
horses and mules quite as much so as
corn. and they have the advantage OF
being better balanced IN that they con-
tain relatively a larger amount OF pro
tein and less carbohydrates. They are,
therefore. not 50 heating or fastening IN
their tendency as corn. and their culti-
walton should be encouraged In every
possible way. since IN a measure they
may be said 70 constitute "by-products
crops" and while no doubt enough corn
win presently be produced in the south
TO feed our live stock. the more oats
and barley grown the greater the sur
plus Of food available, not only for home
use but for export purposes as we'll
Barley contains about S4 per cent OF d.
gestible fat: while corn contains rs per
cent OF digestible protein. sc per cent
OF digestible carbohydrates and 43 per
cent or digestibie fat A ton OF barley
removes from the soil approximately
So pounds OF nitrogen. 15.S pounds OF
phosphorfc acid and s.s pounds Of potash.
a ton OF corn removes approximately 3
pounds OF nitrogen. 1L2 pounds of phos-
phoric acid and Ia pounds OF potash Ii
viii thus be seen that the one crop Is
not harder than the other IN the mat
Ger OF exhausting X OF its fertilizing con-
.stituents. Winter barley Is more diff
ficult crop to grow than wheat or oats.
however. and this important fact should
not be lost sighS OF. but * win make a
very fne yield of grain under proper
conditions. and there Is undoubtedly an
opportunity for extending its growth
with material advantages. This crop
should as a rule follow cowpeas or some
other legune which has enriched the
land The ground should be thoroughly
broken before IL Is seeded. and X should
be s0zn at the rate OF / IL to two Dusn-
els per acre when drilled. and larger
amount when brosdcasted- BrOadcasting
harley. however. IS undesirable Unless
the crop makes good root development
in the autumn IL viii not likely with
satisfactory yield the following spring.
Barley requfres quite liberal fertiliza-
ton; 4oe to so pounds OF an S-2-5 MKT
ure win be found satisfactory on clay
lands. a little more potash being used
on sandy soils The best results viii
probably follow planting 1t in what is
known as the open furrow method II
should be seeded relatively early. the
1st to 18th OF October being a good time
10 plant Earlier seeding viii probably
result in It's infestatiOn with the Hessian
fay II the season is al all favorable.
Il win make q fine growth by the first
OF the year, and * can be grazed with
success during the winter months; IN
fact. certain strains OF barley have been
found more satisfactory for grazing pur-
noses that either rye or oats. though OF
course the crop win not stand as rough
handling or as much tramping as rye
IN particular -
market, there being what are known as
two four and six-rowed strains, and
hulless and beardIess sorts as well A
real genuine strain of barley well adapt
ed 70 the south viii prove the most sat
ssfactory source from which to secure
seed. The huIless barley has no par
ricular advantage since Is also a
bearded sort The beardless barley has
never proven hardy in our experience and
i also a light yielder. and os this ac-
count should not be sown- One great
trouble In the growth OF winter barley Is
due to the fact that much of the seed
avaiIabIe Is simply spring barley i'm
ported from the north. and not being
adapted TO this environment. il IS killed
out or proves unsatisfactory in many in
stances From 30 20 60 bushels OF barley
may be secured per acre. the straw be-
ing shorter than that produced by oats.
The grain. as already seens Is OF fine
quality and character and may be mixed
with oats or corn in equal proportions
a. feed for horses, cattle and hogs. The
grain is quite easily threshed and the
rroo has the advantage Of maturing con-
siderabIv earlier than oats which enables
it, removal from the ground and the
planting OF cowpeas or other legum1nous
crops. which. Of course, Is an advantage
To the farmer who IS practicing a rota-
ton and endsavoring 70 build up his
land In fact, barley would come on the
land IN many parts OF the state SUI
fcieutly early TO permit of the planting OF
corn or sorghum The straw OF barley
Is not as satisfactory for feeding pur-
poses as that. OF rye since the boards are
liable TO make the mouths Of the animals
sore. but Ii makes excellent bedding and
should be preserved and used for this
purpose even II an attempt IS not made
to feed It
Barley Is comparatively free from in
sect enemies, though IL natures so early
Il Is sometimes attacked by birds. par
ticularly sparrOwh and damaged to con-
siderable extent It is subject to smut
soaked for Il hours in cold water and