BRANCHED BARLEY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2134, 6 December 1890, Page 3

BRANCHED BARLEY.

Messrs Carter, the well-known English seed merchants (says a writer in the Australasian) have raised a new kind of barley, with branched spikes, resembling the Egyptian wheat one sees in old Biblical pictures. Now, a branched barley, with a short stout haulm te support it, might turn eut a wenderfui result to the grower. We want some young agriculturist to back his own opinion, and go in for trying a few acres of it. He might select the best seeds from the best plants, and sow them for results. If he succeeded, he would make money —if he didn't he would be no worse of! than if the mildew had destroyed his crop. This branched barley was raised from " a freak " ; and there is no reason why many " freaks " should not be utilised. A Massachussetts farmer had several lambs born, with short, stumpy legs. His flocks had legs too long, as a rule, for they w*re all over the country, like so many greyhounds. Fences eould not keep them in, and they caused both a good deal of trouble and a great deal of blasphemy. So the 'cute Yankee breeder saw his chance. He bred from the short, stumpy-legged sheep that could not possibly wander; and in that way was raised the now I celebrated breed of " Ancona " sheep. I