Historic, archived document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

• Issued November 17, 1910.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

FARMERS' BULLETIN 427.

BARLEY CULTURE IN THE
SOUTHERN STATES.

BY

Agronomist in Charge of Barley Investigations^
Bureau of Plant Industry.

WASHINGTON :

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1910.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. Department of Agriculture,

Bureau of Plant Industry,

Office of the Chief,
Washington, D. C, July 27, 1910.
Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith and to recommend for publication
as a Farmers' Bulletin a manuscript entitled " Barley Culture in the Southern
States," prepared by Mr. H. B. Derr, Agronomist in Charge of Barley Inves-
tigations, under the direction of Mr. M. A. Carleton, Cerealist in Charge of
Grain Investigations.

There is need in the South for winter grain crops to use in the rotation with
cotton and corn as cover crops to prevent washing and to furnish winter pasture.
One of the best crops for this purpose, though it is at present little known,
is winter barley. Spring barley can also be grown in some sections of the
South for grain or forage. The culture of barley in the South is somewhat
different from that in other sections of the United States. As the value of
this crop for feeding and the conditions necessary for its best success are
not generally understood, it is believed that their presentation in this paper
is of value and that its publication will increase the popularity of the crop
in the Southern States. The methods of cultivation herein described are
intended for the production of barley for feeding rather than for malting.
Respectfully,

Wm. a. Taylor,
Acting Chief of Bureau.

Hon. James Wilson,

Secretary of Agriculture.

CO'NTENTS.

Page.

Introduction - 3

Varieties of barley grown in the South. 3

Soils adapted to the crop *..... 5

Fertilizers for barley in the South 5

The use of green manures 6

Preparation of the soil 7

Sowing the seed 9

Harvesting and thrashing barley 10

Uses of the crop 11

Diseases of barley 13

Insects that attack barley - 13

Statements of southern seedsmen regarding barley ^ 14

Statements of southern farmers regarding barley 14

Summary 15

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page.

Fig. 1. A head of awnless and one of hooded (beardless) barley 4

2. Plowing under cowpeas to improve the soil 6

3. Plowing under crimson clover to improve the soil 6

4. 'An excellent roller for pulverizing and settling the soil 7

5. A plank drag used in preparing the seed bed for barley 8

6. A hillside showing the effect of erosion of soil 13

427
2

B. P. I.— 602.

BARLEY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

INTRODUCTION.

Barley ranks fourth in production among the cereals in the United
States, but is little cultivated in the South. It was one of the lead-
ing grain crops of the early colonists of Maryland, Virginia, and
North and South Carolina, but wheat has largely replaced it. Prior
to 1892 nearly all the Southern States were included in the statistics
of barley production issued by the United States Department of
Agriculture. Since that time, however, owin^ to the small acreage
grown, the States of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
Alaba^ma, Mississippi, and Louisiana have been omitted from the
annual statement.

Table I gives the acreage, production, total farm value, average
yield to the acre, and average price per bushel of barley produced m
the Southern States, as far as statistics are available :

Table I. — Barley production in the Southern States, 1909.

state.

Acreage.

Produc-
tion.

Total
farm value.

Average

yield
per acre.

Average
price per
Dushel.

Acres.

Bushels.

Bushels.

Maryland

1,000

32,000

^0,000

32.0

«0.64

Virginia

3,000

86,000

61,000

28.6

.71

Kentucky

1,000

24,000

^ 18, 000

24.0

.76

Tennessee

1,000

24,000

19,000

24.0

.79

Texas

4,000
t

78,000

78,000

19.4

1.00

The figures presented in Table I are for the grain crop only. No
statistics of the quantity of barley sown in the South for hay, soil-
ing, or pasture purposes are available. From the reports received,
its use for these purposes is rapidly increasing. When the value
of the grain for feeding and of the plant as a soiling, cover, and
pasture crop is more fully understood, barley will prol3ably ag'ain
become one of the prominent crops for the South.

VARIETIES OF BARLEY GROWIT IN THE SOUTH. «

WINTER BARLEY.

Winter barley is cultivated in the South for grain, hay, and
pasture. At present the most popular variety for grain production
IS Tennessee Winter, a six-rowed, bearded barley which was selected
and improved by the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station
and has been widely distributed in recent years by the Office of
Grain Investigations of the Bureau of Plant Industry. A similar
variety known as Union Winter is grown at the Tennessee station

'^The word "variety" is here used in the ordinary commercial sense, and
does not refer to distinct races or pedigreed strains.
427

3

56779°— 10

4

BAKLEY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

and sometimes gives a larger yield than Tennessee Winter. Union
Winter is also grown at the Virginia Agricultural Experiment
Station.

A winter variety of hooded^ barley (see fig. 1) has been grown
for several years at Durham, N. C. Several hooded varieties have
also been successfully grown in an experimental way on the Arling-
ton Experimental Farm, near Washington, D. C. This type will
be of great value when once firmly established. Spring hooded
barley has been grown in a limited way in the South. AVhile it
can be grown as a grain crop in the Piedmont region and the higher
portions of the Southern States, it is recommended only as a hay

or soiling crop, for
which it is superior to
any other variety.

SPRING BARLEY.

Bearded barley as a
spring grain crop is
not generally adapted
to the Southern States,
as has been demon-
strated at several of
the agricultural expe-
riment stations and ex-
perimental farms. At
the Maryland Agri-
cultural Experiment
Station ^ a compara-
tive test was made be-
tween the two-rowed
and six-rowed spring
barleys and the six-
rowed winter barley.
The two-rowed spring
barley vielded at the
rate 24.4 bushels-
and the six-rowed
spring barley at the rate of 29,2 bushels, an average of 27.7 bushels
for the spring varieties. The average from three half-acre plats of
winter barley was 50.5 bushels, or 22.8 bushels more than that from
the spring varieties. The yields of the spring varieties in this experi-
ment were far in excess of those of spring barley obtained elsewhere.

In 1908 nearly two hundred varieties and selections of two-rowed
and six-rowed and of bearded and hull-less barleys were sown by the
writer on the Arlington Experimental Farm. The soil and climatic

« The name " hooded " is proposed for the class of barleys now known as
" beardless," owing to the fact that the varieties so known are not strictly
beardless. In these barleys the flowering glume, is prolonged into a hooded
projection which takes the place of the awn upon the bearded varieties. A
true awnless (beardless) variety has been developed by the Office of Grain In-
vestigations of the Bureau of Plant 'Industry ; hence Uae necessity for the
change of name (see fig. 1).

^ Bulletin 28, Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station.

427

Fig. 1.-

-A head of awnless and one of hooded .(beardless)
barley.

BARLEY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

5

conditions were favorable, and good growth was made by many of the
varieties. The greater portion, however, failed to mature grain, but
would have made excellent hay.

Hooded barley can be grown as a spring grain crop on the clay and
loam soils of the Piedmont region and higher elevations of the South.
The yield, however, is usually not as satisfactory as that of the Ten-
nessee Winter variety. At Mountain ville, Tenn., spring hooded barley
was sown broadcast on river-bottom land on February 1 at the rate of
1^ bushels to the acre. The crop was ripe on May 15, and gave a
yield of 40 bushels per acre. This large crop was no doubt due to
the care used in the selection and preparation of the soil and seed.

SOILS ADAPTED TO THE CROP.

While barley can be grown upon most of the soils of the South, a
fertile, well-drained clay or loam will produce the best grain crop.
These soils will also give better results when barley is grown for
winter pasture. The strong, vigorous growth necessary for produc-
ing a heavy hay crop is also made on the heavier soils. For hog
pasture or for fall or spring soiling the crop can be grown on the
lighter soils.

FERTILIZERS FOR BARLEY IN THE SOUTH.

The appearance of the growing crop is a good indication of the
kind of fertilizer needed. If' the plants make a rapid growth and
are of a rich green color it indicates that there is sufficient nitrogen
in the soil to make a crop. If the growth is slow and of a poor color
it indicates a lack of nitrogen and possibly a sour soil. If the
plants make a good growth but the stems are weak and the heads
small and not well filled, the need of phosphoric acid and potash is
indicated. Many of the soils of the South are deficient in nitrogen
and phosphoric acid. Potash is generally less needed than the two
former, although on worn-out soils a complete fertilizer is necessary.
Where cowpeas and green manures are plowed under and considerable
humus is formed, the purchase of nitrogen, which is the most expen-
sive of these three elements, can be largely avoided, thus reducing
the cost of fertilizers.

The uses and value of fertilizers and lime are discussed by Dr. S. A.
Knapp in a recent publication. On rich lands it is advised to use
3 parts of acid phosphate and 1 part of cottonseed meal. On me-
dium soils 1 part of cottonseed meal to 2 parts of acid phosphate will
give good results, while on thin or impoverished soils equal quantities
of cottonseed meal and of acid phosphate are recommended.

Where a complete fertilizer is deemed necessary it is advised that
it contain from 2 to 3 per cent of nitrogen, 8 to 10 per cent of avail-
able phosphoric acid, and from 1^ to 2 per cent of potash. Doctor
Knapp states that on some lands a fertilizer containing 14 per cent
of acid phosphate will be profitable. On the clay soil of the Arling-
ton Experimental Farm, where cowpeas and rye are plowed under as
green manures, in addition to barnyard manure, 200 pounds of acid
phosphate per acre has given excellent yields with wheat, barley,
and oats.

^ Commercial Fertilizers : Their Uses and Value. Document No. 441, Bureau
of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.
427

6

BAELEY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

THE USE OF GREEK MAHURES.

Plowing under cowpeas (fig. 2) is an excellent method for build-
ing up worn-out soils, as it adds plant food and improve^ the physical

Fig. 2. — Plowing under cowpeas to Improve the soil.

condition. If this is done in August and the land is rolled and
finished with a planker followed by a harrow, an excellent seed bed

Fig. 3. — Plowing under crimson clover to impx'ove the soil.

for winter barley is produced. Crimson clover sown in the fall and
plowed under in the spring (fig, 3) is one of the best methods for

427

BARLEY CULTURE IN THE - SOUTHERN STATES.

7

improying the soil in the South. When well turned under, decay sets
in rapidly and the fertilizing ingredients are soon made available as
plant food. The humus thus added to the soil improves the physical
condition and increases the water-holding capacity of the soil. Both
cowpeas and crimson clover add nitrogen to the soil.

In ^me portions of the South rye is sown in the fall and plowed
under as a green-manure crop in the summer. Eye volunteers badly ,^
however, and when once introduced on the farm is likely to cause
trouble through the mixing of the grain.

PREPARATION OF THE SOIL.

The proper preparation of the seed bed for barley is important in
order to get the best resjilts. From careful observations it seems

Fig. 4. — An excellent roller for pulverizing and settling the soil.

apparent that deeper plowing and better soil preparation are neces-
sary in order that the crops may make their best growth. Barley
as a grain crop will give best results if it follows some deeply plowed
and thoroughly cultivated crop, such as potatoes or corn. A\Tien
winter barley follows either of these crops the soil can be put in good
condition by a thorough disking and cross harrowing before seeding.
This gives a loose seed bed with a firmer subsoil than when the land
is plowed. If cowpeas are plowed under the work should be done
some time previous to sowing the barley in order to allow the soil
to settle. This settling can be hastened by using a light roller fol-
lowed by a spike-tooth harrow to loosen the surface. The roller,
which is shown in figure 4, crushes the clods and settles the soil
without compacting it, as is done by the solid roller. Cross harrow-
ing with a disk harrow will also pack the soil, and if followed by a
toothed harrow will make a good seed bed.

427

8

BARLEY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

A good tool for use in preparing the seed bed is the plank drag
(fig. 5), one of the cheapest, yet most valuable, implements on the
farm. It is made by lapping 6 or 8 pieces of 2-inch plank, 8 or 10
inches wide and 6 or 8 feet long, and fastening them to crosspicces
by means of bolts or spikes. This implement crushes the clods as
well as levels the soil. By following with a spike-tooth harrow
a fine seed bed is formed.

To secure the best results with spring barley the preparation of
the soil should begin the previous fall. If the soil is heavy it
should be deeply plowed in the fall and sown to some cover crop,
such as clover, oats, or vetch. These crops will prevent the washing
of the soil and will furnish pasture during the winter and early
spring. A shallow plowing early in the spring and cross harrowing
will make a good seed bed. Some seasons the soil dries out so rapidly

Fig. 5. — A plank drag used in preparing the seed bed for barley.

that it is hard to complete the spring plowing. By going over the
fields with a disk harrow before plowing a mulch is formed, which
will retain the moisture and prevent the soil from becoming too
hard to plow. Where there is a decided tendency to wash, it will
be found best to practice terracing in addition to deep plowing and
the use of a cover crop. Barley should not be grown on land that
is level and undrained and inclined to be wet during the winter and
early spring. In such places the crop is very frequently ruined by
attacks of rust.

Barley will not do well on sour soils ; consequently, when a heavy
cowpea or other green-manure crop is plowed under, lime should
be applied at the rate of at least 25 bushels per acre to correct the
acidity. In some places finely pulverized limestone has been used
for this purpose with success. The results secured, however, are not
as immediate as with the burnt* lime, but the beneficial effect is

427

BABLEY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

9

noticed for a much longer time. Limestone also aids in improving
the physical condition of the soil. It is used at the rate of 1 to 2
tons per acre. A safe rule is to use twice as much of the ground
limestone as of the burnt lime.

SOWING THE SEED.

THE KIND OF SEED TO SOW.

Care should be used in selecting the kind of seed sown. Seed
grain should always be regraded and cleaned before seeding. Where
no fanning mill is available the following method « will give excellent
results: Put the grain in a tub or barrel of water, leaving room
enough to stir thoroughly. The plump seeds will sink to the bottom
and the light seeds and most of the weed seeds will float on top and
€an be skimmed off and fed to stock or destroyed. The stand of
barley will be largely increased by the use of this method, as the
greater portion of the seeds that float will make very poor plants if
they grow at all.

The use of 1 pound of formalin to 40 gallons of water when clean-
ing the seed will aid in preventing loss from smut. The seed should
be spread out and thoroughly dried after treating.

TIME OF SEEDING.

In 1908 at the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station,
at Ealeigh, winter barley was seeded on four different dates — October
20, November 3, November 19, and December 6. The latter date gave
the best results. The director of the station. Prof. C. B. Williams,
states that the experiments conducted so far seem to indicate that
winter barley is a promising crop in North Carolina.

At the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station barley was
sown on seven different dates in 1901, from September 17 to Novem-
ber 15. The first seeding gave the largest yield of grain. In 1908
at the same station barley was seeded on four different dates, from
September 17 to October 28. The first seeding again gave the best
yield.

In a time-of-seeding test conducted by the Virginia Agricultural
Experiment Station,* at Blacksburg, barley was sown for four years
upon four different dates — September 15, September 30, October 15,
and October 30. The largest yields of grain were secured when
barley was seeded near the 1st of October. From these results it is
believed best to seed winter barley in eastern Tennessee and the Pied-
mont region of Virginia and North Carolina not later than October 1.

At the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station and on the
Arlington Experimental Farm, near Washington, D. C, the seeding
of barley is generally done from September 10 to September 25. It
has been sown as late as October 1, but such late seeding is not ad-
visable in that latitude, as during an unfavorable season the plants
fail to make sufficient growth to survive the winter.

The time of seeding will have to be regulated according to the
locality, the elevation, and the purpose for which the crop is to be
used. If intended for pasture, barley should be sown at least two

« Circular 62, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.
^ Circular 3, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station.

427

10

BARLEY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

weeks earlier than if intended for grain, so that the plants may
become firmly established before pasturing commences. For a grain
crop the seeding in southern Pennsylvania, Maryland, and northern
Virginia should be done not later than September 25. Farther south
and at lower altitudes seeding is usually done in October and Novem-
ber. A safe rule is always to sow the barley before the seeding time
for wheat, as barley is less likely to be injured by insects than wheat.

' RATE OF SEEDING.

The rate of seeding barley must be determined by the fertility of.
the soil and the purpose of the crop. For a grain crop it should be
sown with a drill at the rate of 8 pecks to the acre. On poor
soil the seeding should be less than on more fertile soil. For pasture,
hay, or soiling purposes the higher rate of seeding can be used on
fertile soils. In a rate-of -seeding test conducted at the North Caro-
lina Agricultural Experiment Station barley was sown at the rate
of 4, 6, 8, and 10 pecks to the acre. In this experiment the seeding
of 8 pecks gave the best yield.

METHOD or SEEDING.

There is no doubt that drilling in the seed will give the best results.
Winter barley should be drilled in deeply, leaving the furrows rough
after the drill. In case of heaving, due to freezing and thawing dur-
ing the winter and early spring, the young plants are less likely to
be injured than when the soil is made level.

So many failures have resulted from ' broadcasting the seed of
winter barley that it is not considered wise to sow it in that way.
However, as some may desire to try winter barley who do not have
a drill, the following directions are given :

Prepare a good seed bed, at least 4 inches deep, and sow evenly
from 10 to 12 pecks of seed to the acre. Harrow deeply so that the
seed is well covered, as this is the secret of success with winter barley.
Cross harrowing will distribute the seed more evenly. Fertilizers
should be added to give the plants a strong, vigorous start.

HABVESTING AND THBASHING BARLEY.

The proper time for cutting barley for grain can easily be deter-
mined by pinching a kernel between the thumb and first finger. If
the straw is mostly ripe and the grain can just be dented with the
nail, it is in the hard dough stage and should be cut at once. If the
crop is weedy, the bundles should be allowed to dry out before shock-
ing. The shocks should be made long instead of round ; this allows
the air to pass through and dry them out in case of wet weather.
The shocks can easily be capped by breaking the bundles over the top.
As the market value of the crop is injured by allowing the grain to
become discolored by dew and rain, carefully capping the shocks or
placing the grain under cover is advisable.

In thrashing barley care should be taken in adjusting the concaves
so that the grain is not too badly broken, as this will seriously aflect
the price when marketed. Barley should be thoroughly dry before
thrashing and the seed must be kept in dry bins, as it will become
musty if stored when damp. Musty barley fed to stock is injurious.

427

BARLEY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

11

USES OF THE CROP.

BARLEY AS A GRAIN FEED.

Barley is nearly equal to corn in value for feeding purposes, but
liould not make up more than half of the grain ration for horses and
attle. For the best results in feeding to horses and cattle it should
e crushed or coarsely ground, as this aids digestion and also reduces
iie danger of injury to the mouths of the animals from the beards,
'or hog feed, simply soaking the whole grain over night will suffice,
'he finest kind of bacon is produced from feeding ground barley
lixed with skim milk. Barley is also an excellent feed for sheep,
t can be fed whole or crushed. Many experiments conducted by the
gricultural experiment stations and farmers throughout the North-
west have demonstrated the value of barley for feeding purposes.

WINTER BARLEY FOR HAY.

Barley properly cut and cured will furnish a very nutritious hay
iiat is readily eaten by all kinds of stock. When intended for hay it
hould be sown more thickly than when intended for grain. In grow-
ng winter barley for hay the mistake most commonly made is in
3tting the crop become too ripe in the belief that better results will
e secured if the grain is allowed to fill. This is done at the expense
f the stem and leaves, as much of the material from which the grain
s produced is stored there. The barley is bearded, and if left too
ong before cutting, the beards become hard and will injure the
Qouths of the animals. When the crop is cut in the flowering stage
he beards are soft and will be found to be less injurious than if
Jlowed to ripen further. The crop can be cut with a mower and
landled like other hay.

SPRING HOODED BARLEY FOR HAY AND SOILING.

Spring hooded barley should be sown as early as possible in the
pring after the danger of severe frosts is over. The plant has a
arge, juicy stem and very broad, green leaves. As the heads are not
)earded, this variety is preferable to the Tennessee Winter for soiling
,nd hay-making purposes. If sown early it will grow rapidly and
deld a large quantity of excellent green feed, relished by all kinds
if stock. If cut when the grain is in the milk stage it will yield a
arge crop of nutritious hay that will give better results in feeding
han will most native hays.

[•able II. — Chemical analyses of the different crops cut for hay in the South,

Crop.

Number
of analy-
ses
made.

Air-dry substance.

Water.

Ash.

Crude
protein.

Fiber.

Carbo-
hydrates.

Fats.

Per cent.

Per cent.

Per cent.

Pe)' cent.

Per cent.

Per cent.

4

10.6

5.3

9.3

23.6

48.7

2.5

12

16.0

6.1

7.4

27.2

40.6

2.7

60

13.2

4.4

5.9

29.0

45.0

2.5

38

15.8

6.2

12.3

24.8

38.1

3.3

7

9.6

8.6

15.2

27.2

36.6

2.8

5

11.3

7.9

17.0

25.4

36.1

2.3

8

10.7

7.5

16.6

20.1

42.2

2.9

6

11.3

7.2

15.4

22.3

38.6

5.2

427

12

BAKLEY CULTUEE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

Table 11^ shows the comparative value of the different crops cut
for hay in the South. While too much emphasis should not be
attached to such tables, owing to the difference in digestibility of the
various feeds, still they give a good idea of the comparative worth
of various kinds of hay.

WINTER BARLEY AS A PASTURE CROP.

Winter barley should be more widely used as a winter and spring
pasture crop, as all stock eat it readily. It should be sown early in
the fall with a drill, at the rate of 8 to 10 pecks per acre. When thus
sown the seeds are planted deeper than when sown broadcast. The
roots consequently get a firmer hold and are not so easily pulled out
in feeding. Barley sown early in August makes an excellent pasture
for hogs. The Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station reports
excellent growth made upon this pasture.

WINTER BARLEY AS A NURSE CROP.

Barley is without doubt the best nurse crop for grasses and clover.
The shade is less dense than that of oats and wheat, and the crop
, ripens from eight to twelve days earlier than either. This leaves
more moisture in the soil for the grass crop, and the early cutting
of the barley allows the young grass plants to get well started before
very hot weather.

At Berry ville, Va., a correspondent seeded 15 pounds of timothy
with 2 bushels of barley to the acre and secured 60 bushels of barley
per acre and a fine stand of grass.

At the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station in 1909 the
writer saw two fine examples of barley as a nurse crop. On one plat
7 pounds of alsike clover were sown with 1 bushel of barley ; on the
other, 10 pounds of red clover with 1 bushel of barley. They were
sown in August, 1908. The open character of the barley gave the
clover plants the best possible chance for growth.

WINTER BARLEY AS A COVER CROP.

One of the greatest losses of the South is due to the washing of
soils (see fig. 6), large quantities of the surface soil being carried
into the streams by the winter and spring rains. The muddy con-
dition of the creeks and rivers is sufficient evidence of this fact. If
the soil were properly covered with growing crops, this washing
, could largely be prevented. Winter barley will be found one of the
best crops for this purpose. It can be sown early in the fall and
covers the ground until the following summer. If it is not desired
for a grain crop it can be cut early for green feed, or it can be
pastured off' during the winter and early in the spring before plow-
ing for spring crops. When crimson clover fails, the land should
be disked and winter barley sown, in order that the land may be
covered with a growing crop during the winter and spring.

BARLEY AS AN AID IN CLEARING THE LAND OF WEEDS.

Barley is an excellent crop to clear the land of weeds. It matures
early in the season before many of the weed seeds ripen. The land
can then be plowed and disked, causing many of the weeds that later
appear to be destroyed.

« See Farmers' Bulletin 22 U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.

427

BAELEY CULTUEE IN TH^J SOUTHEEN STATES.

13

It is suggested that barley be drilled in the* corn rows early in the
fall, thus securing an early start for pasture or a cover crop,- though
no definite experiments have been made with reference to this subject.

DISEASES OF BARLEY.

The most injurious diseases of barley in the South are the rusts
and smuts.

Attacks of rust are generally most severe when grain is sown late
in a moist situation. This causes a soft, succulent growth, very sus-
ceptible to rust. The use of phosphate and potash in the fertilizer
will insure stiff er, harder straw. By planting barley early in, the
spring upon well-drained soil the plants make a good growth and
mature the crop before the rust becomes severe. Winter barley is le^s
subject to rust than the spring varieties, because of its earliness.

Fig. 6.— a hillside showing the effect of erosion of soil. Winter barley makes an excellent
cover crop to prevent the washing of soils..

Smut can be largely controlled by treating the seed for ten minutes
with a solution made of 1 pound of formalin to 40 gallons of water.
If this treatment fails, use the modified hot-water treatment, which
is explained in Farmers' Bulletin 250, entitled " The Prevention of
Stinking Smut of Wheat and Loose Smut of Oats," and in Bulletin
152 of the Bureau of Plant Industry, entitled " The Loose Smuts of
Barley and Wheat."

INSECTS THAT ATTACK BARLEY.

Barley is attacked by many of the same insects as wheat. Among
the injurious ones are the spring grain aphis, or " green bug," Hessian
fly, chinch bug, and at times the army worm. As the majority of
farmers are familiar witli these, no description is necessary. The
treatment in combating these insects on the barley crop is the same
as that given when they appear on wheat.**

^ For information regarding these insects, see the following circulars of the
Bureau of Entomology of the U. S. Department of Agriculture : No. 70, entitled
''The Hessian Fly;" No. 93, The Spring Grain Aphis;" and No. 113, "The
Chinch Bug."
427

14

BARLEY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

The Angoumois grain moth and the weevils that attack the grain ii
the bin or seed house are probably the most serious menace to th
crop in the South. Treating the seed with carbon bisulphid o
hydrocyanic-acid gas will destroy these insects. Carbon bisulphid i
highly inflammable, and both hydrocyanic-acid gas and carbon bisul
phid are poisonous and dangerous to inhale. The methods of han
dling them should be thoroughly understood before their use i
attempted.^

STATEMENTS OF SOUTHERN SEEDSMEN REGARDING BARLETZ

The following quotations from the catalogues of southern seedsmei
show that the barley crop is considered important by the seed trad
of the South at the present time :

Winter barley makes excellent winter grazing.

Winter barley is a fast grower and makes a fine pasture for stock.

Beardless barley is the earliest barley in cultivation. Grows about as high a
common barley, but has stiffer straw, which enables it to stand up well.
cellent for hog feeding.

Beardless spring barley has been sown with very satisfactory results for tw
or three seasons past In this section (Virginia) and farther south. It make
a quick-growing crop of most excellent and nutritious green feed, and is grow
ing in popularity wherever it is used, and will also make a good grain croi
although its principal value is as an early nutritious forage crop, either to fee
green or cut as hay. To cure for hay it should be cut while the grain is in th
milk state. Sow 1^ to 2^ bushels.

Beardless barley is comparatively a new thing in the South, but growing int
great favor. It is very much like the ordinary barley in grain and growth, hi:
has the peculiarity of having no beards, an advantage that is easily seen b
the planter. Another thing, it is extremely early and quick in its growth, thu
affording a quick grain hay not equaled by the slower growing grains'. Bearc
less barley is more frequently sown in the South in the very early spring, an
will mature as quickly as winter barley sown in the fall.

The particular value of barley for growing in the South is for fall, wintei
and spring grazing, and to cut before it heads out full to use as a hay crop. I
sections where it is difficult to grow the regular grasses for hay, the use of grai
crops, such as barley, rye, wheat, and oats, is vefry desirable. All of these crop
make most nutritious feed and cure up in first-class shape to take the place c
hay. It should always be remembered, however, that where it is desired fo
this purpose these grain crops should be cut before fully headed out. Barle
stools out more and really makes better fall, winter, and spring grazing tha
either rye or wheat. Cut for hay, it cures up . splendidly and is superior i
nutritive and feeding qualities to timothy hay. It is so easily grown and su(
ceeds so well throughout the South that it should be much more largely grow
than at present. It can be constantly grazed during the winter and spring, an
is ready to cut two weeks ahead of wheat. It is well adapted for seeding a
the last working ot corn or cotton, and prevents winter leaching and washin
of soils by winter rains. Sow at the rate of from 1^ to 2 bushels per acr
broadcast.

STATEMENTS OF SOUTHERN FARMERS REGARDING BARLEY.

The following are a few statements taken from a large numbe
received from practical farmers all over the South :
Mr. E. Lee Dutrow, Frederick County, Md., says:

I have been planting winter barley for fl number of years for early pastur(
We find we can pasture until late in the spring without any harm to it. W

^ Full directions for fumigating with carbon bisulphid are given in Farmerj
Bulletin 145, and for fumigating with hydrocyanic-acid gas in Circular 11^
Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.

427 *

BAEIJIY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHEBN STATES.

15

crush the grain to feed the cattle, horses, and hogs. The test of milk shows
a marked increase of butter fat while feeding barley, and the cattle keep in
better condition.

A correspondent tells of the following experiment in Montgomery
County, Va. :

Thirty acres of barley were seeded October 1, and by November 1 a large
growth was formed. From January 16 to March 1, 80 high-grade ewes and 100
lambs were turned on this barley as lambs were dropped. Bariey was grazed
until April 1. They were then taken off and the grain allowed to mature; it
gave a yield of 20 bushels of nice grain per acre. Neither lambs nor ewes were .
fed grain while on the pasture. The lambs were sold in the middle of July and
weighed nearly 100 pounds apiece. The thrashed grain was ground and fed as
slop to shoats, and they made rapid gains. The straw was nice and soft and
readily eaten by the cattle. The field was also sown to timothy and clover, both
of which did well and made a good stand. We attribute the good stand of
grass to the barley as a nurse crop.

Mr. B. P. Fraser, Georgetown County, S. C, says:

My experience with it is that it makes a better winter pasture than rye.

Mr. C. F. Henley, Blount County, Tenn., says :

Barley is excellent for winter pasture,

A correspondent who is making a study of agriculture in the South
says:

A crop of barley followed by rape or sowed with some grass seed will furnish
as much feed per acre as a crop of corn and at less expense.

SUMMARY.

Barley, although it ranks fourth among the cereals in the United
States, is but little cultivated in the South for grain.

As a true awnless barley has been developed the word " hooded " is
proposed for the beardless barleys now grown.

The Tennessee Winter variety is the most profitable barley to grow
in the South.

Winter hooded and spring hooded barleys are grown in only a few
localities in the South.

The best soils for barley, either for grain or hay, are the fertile
loams and clays.

Barley requires nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash to perfect the
grain crop. The first, which is high priced, can be largely supplied
by plowing under clover and cowpeas. This leaves only the cheaper
fertilizers to be purchased.

Liming the soil has proved beneficial to barley.

Seed should be carefully selected before seeding to insure a good
stand. The skimming process, when properly done, gives excellent
results. Seed can be treated for smut in this operation.

The seed bed must be well prepared.

Barley will succeed best after a cultivated crop.

The time of seeding barley is regulated by the locality and eleva-
tion. A safe rule in the South is to sow winter barley before sowing
winter wheat.

Spring barley to succeed in the South must be sown as early as
possible.

427

16 BAKLEY CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

The rate of seeding depends upon the fertility of the soil and the
purpose of the crop, 8 pecks being the general rate.
Drilling the crop gives the best resu Its.

The time to harvest can be determined by the hardness of the grain.
The hard dough stage is considered best.

Barley grain when crushed can be fed to all kinds of stock with the
besft of results.

Winter barley for hay should be cut when the grain is in the flower-
ing stage, as the beards will then be less objectionable.

Winter barley makes an excellent cover crop to prevent the washing
of the soil.

Winter barley is the best nurse crop known for clovers and grasses.

As a winter and early-spring pasture crop barley is considered
superior to wheat or rye. It is readily eaten by all kmds of stock.

Spring hooded barley is not a successful crop for grain in the
greater portion of the South, as it is adapted only to the higher
elevations.

For a hay or soiling crop hooded barley sown early gives excellent
results.

The most destructive barley diseases are rust and smut. The first
can be largely controlled by early-spring planting and well-drained
soil. Smut can be largely prevented by treating the seed for ten
minutes with a solution made of 1 pound of formalin to 40 gallons
of water.

The injurious field insects are the spring grain aphis, the Hessian
fly, the chinch bug, and the army worm. The same remedies used
for wheat should be applied.

The Angoumois grain moth and weevils are injurious to stored
barley. Treating barley with carbon bisulphid or hydrocyanic-acid
gas is beneficial.

Barley is highly recommended by seedsmen and also by farmers
who have given it a careful trial.

427

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