Excerpt from On the More Frequent Growth of Barley on Heavy Land

It may, therefore, be assumed that the climate Of this country is very favourable for the production of good barley; and we have to consider this evening whether we have taken full advantage Of this natural gift, or whether the extended culti vation of the crop on soils too heavy to be classed as barley soils, might not have a more prominent place In our agriculture.

To argue in favour of growing several corn crops in succession may, at first sight, appear to be advocating an Old practice which has been found wanting, and which has been abandoned in favour of the more modern system of rotation, or alternation Of grain with fodder crops. To grow corn-crops in succession, each one inferior to the last, until the produce does not pay the Cost Of labour and seed, and then to allow the land to rest for several years, is a process totally different from that which I am about to propose. Artificial manures were almost unknown to the last generation of farmers. A knowledge Of their effects, and abundant and cheap supplies of them, are essential to the system I have to advocate.

In bringing the subject Of the more extended growth of barley in Great Britain before you this evening, I shall trouble you with figures as little as possible. They are the less necessary as a full report Of our experiments with this crop has been pub lished quite recently, in the 'journal Of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.' From the results there recorded, and from some which have been Obtained since, I shall select a few as may be needed to illustrate and support my views. I do not anticipate any difficulty in proving to your satisfaction that, upon my land, which partakes much more of the character of a wheat than of a barley soil, crops Of barley, good both In quantity and In quality, may be grown for many years in succession. I must leave it for you to decide whether your own soils are suitable for the trial.

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