NEW ZEALAND BARLEY
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—Barley grown in Great Britain yields the highest possible brewers' extract, but owing to uncertain climatic conditions, its exclusive employment is not practicable, and to attain the requisite stability brewers are compelled to add a high percentage of sun ripened produce to their grist. "California" and " Chile " at present hold the monopoly for stability and extract. The British Empire, however, notably "New Zealand," produces a barley in every way sound, and owing to the richness of its soil, which is akin to that existing in Great Britain, the extract from brewers' quarter is higher than that obtainable from Californian or Chilian—which fact alone should commend its adoption by brewers.
Apart altogether from the merits and demerits of " Empire Preference," I have it on the authority of one of the leading maltsters in Great Britain, that "New Zealand Chevaline barley is second to none," and as brewers presumably are supporters of Empire Preference, this substituting of New Zealand produce for the present foreign varieties of barley, would not only enable them to gain in extract, but would also afford them the satisfaction of encouraging the pro- duction of Empire raw material.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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