Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/191

Rh broad ears, divided into two rows. When cultivated on a good soil, and thinly sown, it is the most productive of all the species of barley, and possesses the additional advantage, that it does not droop its ears nor lodge, even in rainy seasons. Each row contains from twelve to fifteen small grains: these yield an excellent white flour, which, for most culinary purposes, may be substituted for that of wheat. In England, the best home-brewed ale is produced from this grain; for the culture of which, we shall give a few directions in the sequel.

5. The Hordeum murinum, L. or ; a native, though uncultivated English plant, which grows generally on the sides of roads, walls, &c. Its blossoms appear in May and June: horses and cows are particularly fond of it.

6. The Hordeum pratense, L. or, grows on pastures, meadows, near the roads, hedges, &c.; blossoms in June and July, and is an agreeable fodder to all kinds of cattle.

7. The Hordeum maritimum, L. ; the production of pasture grounds and gravelly shores.

Cultivation.—Barley, in general, requires a dry, light, mellow and rich soil: hence extraordinary care is requisite where it is to be sown in clay. Immediately after the foregoing crop is removed, the land ought to be ploughed; which lays it open to be mellowed by the frost and air. In order to promote this effect, ribbing, or a peculiar method of ploughing, has been introduced, to expose the greatest extent of surface. For the improvement of dry clayey land, Prof. recommends a manure of rich dung, ashes, chalk, or lime; and for some particular soils, malt-dust or soot are very useful; but, according to Sir, soap-boilers' ashes are the most fertilizing substance for the growth of barley, even upon barren grounds.

The comparative advantages of drilling and broad-casting, are stated by Mr., of Hornchurch, Essex, as follows: in the last week of February, 1793, he drilled three acres of turnip-land with barley, at twelve inches intervals with two bushels of seed per acre; it was scarified and harrowed across the latter end of March, and horse-hoed the second week in April; at the same time he sowed the grass-seeds, which produced fine plants, far superior to the broad-cast. The produce of the drilled barley was eighteen quarters three bushels, from three acres.

On the same day, he sowed three acres of broad-cast in the same field and state of cultivation, with three bushels of seed per acre, and also sowed die grass-seeds at the same time. The produce of these three acres amounted only to fifteen quarters and three bushels.

As it is of great consequence in the production of this grain, that it may ripen equally and uniformly, to prevent that inequality which would render it less valuable, we shall communicate the following method of remedying this defect. It is certain, that barley which comes up speedily in a dusky soil, will gain great advantages over seed-weeds: to forward, therefore, its vegetation, some farmers take out about one-third from every sack of seed-barley or bear, to allow for the swelling of the grain, Rh