Year: 1863

: portant crop to the farmer; and being


chiefly employed for mailing and distil-
lation, it invariably finds a ready sale,
and at remunerative rates. Barley re-


qrires to be grown upon certain soils
and under particular circumstances adap-
ted to its growth. Unlike most other
grain crops, it cannot be produced in


perfection unless great care and manage
ment is bestowed in the preparation of
its seed-b bed. The soil must be deep and
mellow, and should be a sand or gravel
, loan. A sand and clay soil, in which


the sand predominates, if deeply plowed,
and made sufficiently pulverulent by the


thorough use of the harrow, is well adap-


ted to the growth of barley, if it is other


wise of proper quality. Barley lands


especially require to be naturally rich in


most of the elements of fertility,


Common barn yard manure should


never be applied to any soil, unless pre-


viously composted, which is intended for


the production of barley the same sea-


son. The proper time for sowing this


grain is after the ground has become suf-


fciently dry and warm in the spring, on


sward lands turned over the preceding


fall, though it should succeed carefully


cultivated crop. The quantity of seed


per acre is generally from five pecks to


two bushels, according to the nature of


the soil and other circumstances. In Sc


lecting seed barley, that should be selec-


ted which is Of lively color, and has


thin skin. 1t has been recommended,


and wisely, by some writers, to change
the seed for that grown at a distance and


on different soils occasionally, as a pro-


bable prevention of the deterioration of
the grain. Loudon, on this subject, re-
marks that the best seed is that which
is free from blackness at the tail, and is
of pale lively yellow, intermixed with
bright wbitish cast, and if the rind be
little shrivelled so much the better, as
it indicates thin skin. The husk of thick


rinded barley is too stiff to shrink, and


will lie smooth and hollow, even when
the -four is shrunk within. The necessi-
! ty of a change Of seed, from time to time,
for that grown in different soil, is in no
instance more evident than in this grain,
which otherwise. becomes coarser every
year. But in this as in all other grain,
the utmost care should be taken that the
seed is full bodied.


The seed of all those varieties usually
sown in the spring, and particularly on
very light soils, require to be buried
about three inches deep, which may be
performed by shallow blowing, or by
using the cultivator. When the plants
are from four to six inches in height, roll
ling may be advantageouslyl performed,
as this operation gives support to the
roots, mutiplies seed stalks and increas.
es their vigor. 8 Barley is an early ripen-
ing grain, and should be harvested as
soon as it is ripe. Considerable more
care is requisite in cutting it at the pro-
per time than is necessary with any of
the other cereals. If cut too late, it will
waste by shelling; and if cut too early,
before it is fully matured, it will shrivel.
Hence, it is obvious that barley should
not be harvested before 1t is fully ripe
nor should it be allowed to become what
is termed dead ripe Great care should
be observed also that it does not heat in
the NOW, as that Injuries it for mailing
purposes.


We have before stated that the prin-
cipal use of barley in this country is for
into malt, to be used in the
of beer, lager beer, &c, and {
the quantity raised is far short of the
continued demand for these purposes
In the United States, according to the t
census of 1850, the amount of barley c
raised the year preceding was 5,167,O15
bushels ; by the census of 1860, 49, Q
535,117 bushels, showing a uniform in S
,rease Of about 100000 bushels each S
uccessive year. b


Barley is valuable also for various ]
',her purposes. 1t contains, according o