From 35 to 40 bushek of barley per acre is considered a good yield, although much larger returns are sometimes obtained. Under very favorable weather and soil conditions, the yield often reaches GO bushels per acre or even more.
In the United States the production of barley has largely increased during the last 50 years. The total yield of barley in 1899 was 73,381,563 bushels, as against 5.167,015 in 1850. and 87, 072,744 bushels in 1895, the largest total crop thus far produced. Of the amount in 1899, more than one-fourth (22.239,776 bushels) was pro duced in the State of California, the following States coming next in order: Iowa, 12,011,896 bushels; Minnesota, 8.144,125 bushels: and Wis consin, 7,670.550. The average annual yield throughout the United States for the ten years 1890-1899 was 23.32 bushels per acre, and the av erage price per bushel cents.
Barley is affected in much the same manner as wheat by attacks of smut and rust. It is, how ever, much less liable to disease than any other cereal crop. See BUSTS; WHEAT.
Food and Feeding Value.—Barley grain, hay, and straw, as well as numerous milling and by products from the grain, are used as feeding stuffs. The grain, like other cereals, contains a fairly high percentage of proteids (12.4 per cent.) and a large amount of nitrogen-free ex tract (69.8 per cent.), chiefly starch. The other constituents are: Water (10.9 per cent.). fat (1.8 per cent.), crude fibre (2.7 per cent.), and min eral matter (2.4 per cent.). Barley is a com
mon feeding-stuff in the Old World, having been satisfactorily used for the grain ration of horses, cattle, and pigs. It is not often fed in the Uni ted States, its use being confined largely to the Pacific Slope. where it is fed especially to horses. Comparative tests at the American Experiment Station have shown that, either alone or mixed with corn or other grain, it gives fairly satis factory results with cattle, pigs, and sheep. In experiment with pigs, 80.1 per cent. of the dry matter, 81.4 per cent. of the protein, and 866 per cent. of the nitrogen extract of barley was found to be digestible. Barley is grown quite exten sively for hay in some sections of the United States. being cut for that purpose before the grain is mature. The principal by-products are barley bran. barley feed (from pearled barley), screenings, malt sprouts, and brewer's grain (q.v.). The mill products are meal and pearled barley. As a food barley is used chiefly in the form of 'pearled barley,' i.e., barley with the husks removed, ground to a round form and polished. Barley is used for thickening soups, for making cooling drinks for invalids, and for a number of other purposes. The ground grain does not make a satisfactory bread; for, although it contains a fairly large amount of proteid matter, it is deficient in gluten. Combined with cow's milk, barley is frequently used for feeding infants, its carbohydrates and mineral matter rendering it very wholesome.