The Raymer enterprise., 1912-08-22
BARLEY AS DRY FARM CROP
success In Western States During tho
Past Few Years Has Attracted
Much Attention.

tBy n. B. DERR, Agronomist In Charge
Of Barley Investigations. U. 8. Depart
ment Of Agriculture)
Barley has generally not been con.
'idered dry land crop. but its sue
cess In the western states. during the
past few years has attracted attention
to Its possibilities for that purpose. In
the northern great plains and Rocky
mountain states. where corn is an unr
certain crop, barley will furnish an
excellent feed for all kinds Of farm
animals. This fact has already given
an impetus to the growing Of live
stock, especially hogs, throughout the
northwest. In the Rocky mountain
and Pacific coast states hooded. or
beardless. barley has long been grown
Tor, hay. Of which It furnishes an e1-
cellent and highly palatable crop. near
" equal to alfalfa in feeding value.
In Utah. Idaho. eastern Colorado.
Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Tex
IS farmers are beginning to realize
he advantages OF winter barley over
,pring sown barley az grain crop.
Winter barley. being fall sown. has
The advantage OF an early start In
The spring and will frequently produce
\ crop where spring sown barley may
'ail. At present there are but two
,orms of winter barley grown In the
vest, the square.head Tennessee winter
and the round-head Utah winter. The
office OF grain investigations. bureau
of plant industry, department OF ag-
riculture. has developed a number OF
other winter forms which were dis.
sributed in 1911. and results will be
watched with interest.
No single variety. either spring or
winter. seems to be adapted to the
entire semi-arid region. Among the
winter forms. Tennessee winter. a
beared six.rowed barley, has go far.
given best results. and Hannchen, a
eeared two-rowed spring barley. leads
In yield In the Dakotas. Among the
'ix.rowed spring forms. Manchuria.
iatami and Odessa are the best
Among the hulless varieties Himalaya
(Guy Mayle). Black hulless and Ne,
pal { White hulless). give the best
results.
With the exception Of sandy and
very alkaline land. barley can be
grown on variety Of soils, but the
best results are generally secured on
lhe prairie or alluvial loan soils. Bar.
ley is more certain crop on alkaline
soils than is either wheat or oats.
The crop requires mellow seed
bed. II the land is plowed 1t should be
Immediately narrowed to conserve the
moisture. In many localities best re-
suits are obtained when the land is
'all plowed and left rough until spring
and then disked and narrowed. Where
there Is tendency TO blowing Of the
soil, granular soil Is preferable to the
dust mulch generally advised.
he y'ciu anu Iuhity Vi pdiiey aic
considerably Influenced by the kind Of
seed sown. The seed should be thor.
nughly cleaned and graded before SOW
ing. Large. plump seed will produce
strong plants, which, In the struggle
Tor existence that always follows seed
Ing dry land crops. will be more likely
to survive than will plants produced
from small, shrunken seeds.
The tanning mill should be found on
every farm. but when not available
simple yet highly effective method
Tor cleaning and grading the seed Is
to immerse II In tub OF water and
stir thoroughly. All the light, chaffy
and diseased grains, as well as the
larger portion Of wild oats and other
weed seeds, will come to the surface
and can be skinned off and burned.
II the seed was smutted, adding form.
ain at the rate OF one pound to 40
gallons OF water will be found effec-
tive in preventing its further propa.
cation.