THE CONTRIBUTOR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 878, 7 February 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE CONTRIBUTOR.

WHY IS NOT MORE BARLEY GROWN 1 This is a question which has been foxoed, ipm our notice of late by the fapt that for- months past there has been little or no barley in the market; but in vain we have sought for a complete reply. That barley is a peculiar crojt, somewhat uncertain, and inconstant of growth, is proved by statistics of its cultivation in Europe and America; but then every crop liable under certain circumstances to prove a failure. To cultivate barley of allkinds successfully, but more particularly the best malting kinds,'deep and fine tillage, rich soil, and a mild summer are required. Surely these conditions are existentin this district. But for some reason or other our farmers do not appear to favor to any great extent the growing of this cereal. Yet how frequently are prizes picked up by those who devote a portion of their land to the cultivation of barley. There is an old saying which tells us not to place all our eggs in one . basket, and this applies with some force to those who till the soil. Acting with wisdom they would not stake their all upon one claaa of crop. To such as last season grew littfo but wheat, how galling it must be to see the readiness with which barley has found markets at extremely high, rates during the past few months, while wheat has had to be disposed of at a low rate in order to effect a clearance before the new crop comes in. The same course seems to have been adopted

with potetonoo to barfoy in Victoria, whero sowenty any barley was grown tsvst season. The WBtitt i* that Melbourne ha* b«»n forcad to depend almost entirety "port outside sttpphosv and those who have had biwtoy for saio hnvowapwithandsome profits, fti some cases* oven Q» hivs hwen given in >falbonm«i for bpsfi wvmpfes of broffay obtaijwd from faliforoia ami tf«w Zealand:. 'the Aiwtralaßiaa- has- lately ds-»o««d an nrtiote to thf eowdderation of thissnbject. anil aocmmte fot 6lu» strop tewing favor with Victoria fctrmersiby th« fact that barley ha* boeoreur subjßutS to the attacks of thw uftterpilliw, "but,." says the Australasian, '"swing that both wtwafi and emts are mvbjeot to visitation* of different kinds, farmers- might wall consider whether they ,'«o acting- wisely in- trantmif with neglect a crop whioh. i» always in duinand, and foe which there woulit bo /in increasing demand if brewers- fett snuonraged to took mora to. malt, and km to sugar than tht*y now do." The facts that Victorian farmer* havo almost cutkidy eschewed tho ((towing of bartey should mivouvngff New Zealand farmers to devote more attention, where th« conditions are favorable, to tho cultivation o£ this crop, especially ot tho malting kinds.