Why would Joseph Smith take a chance on mentioning barley in the Book of Mormon?

Barley is mentioned in the Book of Mormon in multiple places including relation to weights and measures. What is interesting is that barley has long been thought not to have existed in America before Columbus. 

However in 1983 “little barley” was discovered at a pre-Colombian site in Arizona (and in other places since then) believed to date back to 800 BC. 

Why would Joseph have taken such a chance if he was trying to prove the Book of Mormon was true?

See:

• Evidence Central – Book of Mormon Evidence: Barley

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