Barley (Hordeum Vulgare)

Barley originated from either Ethiopia or south west Asia, and was collected from wild plants as early as 8000 BC. It was being cultivated in Egypt by 5000 BC, and over most of Europe by 2000 BC.

Barley is a major cereal in Britain with an annual crop of over seven million tonnes. This is used for animal feed or for malting, little being used in human consumption. Malting is an important process in beer and malt whiskey production.

Barley was once used as an old English measurement for length and distance.

4 poppy seeds = 1 barleycorn
3 barleycorns = 1 inch
4 inches = 1 hand
3 hands = 1 foot (12 inches)
3 feet = 1 yard (36 inches)
5 & 1/2 = yards 1 rod, pole or perch
4 rods or poles = 1 chain (22 yards)
10 chains = 1 furlong ( 220 yards)
8 furlongs = 1 mile (1,760 yards)
3 miles = 1 league ( 5,280 yards)

Barley flour, with a low gluten content, produces a 'heavy' loaf unless mixed with wheat flour when making bread. Other uses include pearled barley, groats, barley water and malt extract health food.

2 Row Barley

Depending upon the variety, barley may have either two or six rows of grain in the ear. Ears with two rows form a flat ear. In Britain, only 2-row barley with a low protein content is used for malting.

6 Row Barley

Barley with six rows forms a roughly cylindrical ear. The yield from 6-row varieties is greater than for 2-row, so these varieties are normally used for animal feed.