Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-10-29

Barley Is less known anu Tess ca
tensiveIy cultivated than any Of the ce-
reals. The south central states, mclud-
ing Kentucky. Tennessee. Texas and
Oklahoma. devoted $1,000 acres 70 this
crop and prodhced a yield OF 100000
bushels in 1911. Maryland cultivated
1900 acres with a yield Of $4,000 bush
els ard Virginia 10000 acres with
yield Of 1so.000 bushels. Just what
proportion OF this barley was spring
s0wn II impossible 70 say. but the type
upon which this article is based Is that
peculiar strain which has been devel-
open IN the south and known as winter
barley. There Is no reason why this
crop should not be extensively and adj
vantaseously cultivated In the south
for tao purposes. namely. the produe-
ton OF grain and pasture. or all the
cereals h is the most desirable for pas
ture on those soils and localities where
IL thrfwes to advantage. The leaves are
not only me but very abundant. and
so succuleut and tender that green bar
ley furnishes pasture as desirable as
that obtained from many OF our choio-
est grasses There is an objection TO
the cultivation OF this crop found In the
boards. This initiates. OF course.
AGAINST the Use OF the straw. but IL does
not affect 1t for the otner purposes
mentioned in this article, since the
beards are knocked OF in passing
through the threshing machine
The desfrability OF cuItivating bar
lev for grain production lies in the fact
that II contains approximately i2.2 per
cent Of protein. 1.6 per cent OF tat.
ana e. per cent OF crude fiber. and SIS
per cent OF carbohydrates. Oats, on the
other hand contain lis per cent or
protein and per cent Of fat Dent
corn. los per cent OF protein and per
cent OF fat Thus. while such standard
erops as cats aud corn contain some
more Fat. they contain less protein than
barley.
one reason Why barley has not been
cultivated more extensively in the south
lies In TIE fact that II is choice as to
the soils on which Il grows. In other
words. il requires a soil much richer
than any OF the other cereals III large
and profitable Yields are TO be secured.
IL Is probably less hardy than any OF
the other cereals. and on that account
the land must be prepared with greater
skill and fartilized 10 better advantage.
Light sandy loans OF clays which have
been enriched with vegetable matter
and thus made friable and fairly reten-
tive Of moisture are well adapted to
its cultivation Extensive areas OF
soils OF this type are seldom found IN
the south. Vet thsrs are small areas
on almost every farm whleh are ideal
" adapted TO the cultivation Of barley.
and since the need Of pasture crops al
that season q the year when Bermuda
grass Is dormant Is so apparent barley
may he made to al a specific need on
the majority Of our farms. When this
crop Is to be planted Ia Is important
that what is known as winter barley be
secured for seed. Reliable seedsmen
throughout the south can supply this
TIE land selected for the crop should
be fairly rich or made SO with yard
manure or through the turnig under
OF .cowpeas or other legumes. IL
should be fairly deeply broken rather
early In the season and worked down
every week until q fine rather compact
yet friable seed bed has been secured
The seeding may be done any time from
the 18th OF October 10 the LIST OF No
vember. Relative early seeding with
this crop Is desirable so that its roots
may have q better opportunity to es-
tabIish themselves before cold weather
sets in. II seeded IN open burrows. as
with the more tender varieties OF win
ter oats. q better stand viii be main
tained and less injury done the crop
BY winter freezing Sow from two 10
two and q half bushels Of seed per
acre. While one may succeed In Sc
curing a stand from broadcasting In
an unusually favorable season, this
method Of planting Is 10 be discounte-
nanced only drilling or seeding IN
open burrows should be practiced With
this crop.
Liberal fertilization is essential with
barley. The plant rather likes a lime
stone soil and in those sections OF the
country where the per cent Of lime In
the land Is very low. an application OF
q ton OF caustic lime or from one 70
two tons af finely ground lime rock
ten days 70 two weeks before seeding
the barl Is very desirable Naturally.
the lime viii not only benefit the bar
ley but succeeding crops. and as soil
acidity Is opposed 20 the most success
ful and profitable farm practice. there
is nothing lost BY. the application Of
lime which HELPS TO adjust the soil
conditions TO the needs Of the plant.
If five 10 ten tons Of yard manure
per acre are available TO use as a
top dressing and work into the soil
with a disc harrow. so much the bet
ter. A complete fertilizer cOntainine
about 70 10 per cent OF phosphorus.
TO IS per cent OF nitrogen. and TO
per cent OF potash viii be advisable