Barley (Hordeum vulgare. Linn.) is perhaps the oldest crop among cereals. Though the exact time of the onset of its cultivation has not been known, the deliberate plating and and  Harvesting of grain was probably beginning about 8000 B C. It seems likely that the wild barley (Hordeum 5pontaneum Koch. ) was widely spread in Asia minor and middle east approximately 1 O.OOOBC (Briggs 1978).

Earliest cultivation of barley was two- rowed types however occasional samples of riakedand I or six-rowed barley were found. The farmers nu doubt selected and propagated these new forms. Gradually six-rowed type;: became more common in irrigated river valleys (Nile valleys, Mesopotamia and Harappa) of ancient civilization from where reached India and China. No two- rowed barley \vas grown in India until 1874 (Briggs

1978).

In the Bronze Age (4000-JOOOBC) barle) was the staple food of Scandinavian countries specially Denmark. Barley porridge had for hundred of years been the national foot.! for Denmark. Although de-hulled wheat as a sole diet results in beriberi symptoms, de-hulled barley does not produce these symptoms and must therefore contain larger amount of vitamins within the seed (Munck, 1977).

Barley (Hordeum vulgare. Linn.) is perhaps the oldest crop among cereals. Though the exact time of the onset of its cultivation has not been known, the deliberate plating and and  Harvesting of grain was probably beginning about 8000 B C. It seems likely that the wild barley (Hordeum 5pontaneum Koch. ) was widely spread in Asia minor and middle east approximately 1 O.OOOBC (Briggs 1978).

Earliest cultivation of barley was two- rowed types however occasional samples of riakedand I or six-rowed barley were found. The farmers nu doubt selected and propagated these new forms. Gradually six-rowed type;: became more common in irrigated river valleys (Nile valleys, Mesopotamia and Harappa) of ancient civilization from where reached India and China. No two- rowed barley \vas grown in India until 1874 (Briggs

1978).

In the Bronze Age (4000-JOOOBC) barle) was the staple food of Scandinavian countries specially Denmark. Barley porridge had for hundred of years been the national foot.! for Denmark. Although de-hulled wheat as a sole diet results in beriberi symptoms, de-hulled barley does not produce these symptoms and must therefore contain larger amount of vitamins within the seed (Munck, 1977).