Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-07-03

1ucxwzzzAr.
1. Irs oarolS AND HsrosY.-Buck.
wheat. or literally besch-whess, 90 called
from lie ssed resembling 10 shape
the mast Of the beech, Il conce-
dsd By al writer's to Be native Of Cen.
trial and Northern Asia. though the time
Of Introduction Into Europe Il differently
stated. Some say that Il was brought
by the Moors into Spain. In the eighth
century: others that Il came with the
Crusaders 10 their return from the HOLY
War In the twelfth; and. be that a. Il
may. IL 10 certain that Il has been cultiva-
ted In England only about two hundred
and ffty years. ln triangular grain,
srrow shaped leaves. and fragrant. pur-
plish white flowers are too well known 10
require more particular description.
3. INTRODUCTION AND PnopuoT IN
rnE q, Silt was frst cultivated In
the United States. by the Dutch on the
Hudson. and the Swedes on the Della
ware. Il Il mentioned among the grain
products Of the former, ~ early - 1929.
and Kahn. the Swedish Naturalist, who
visited this country in i748. speaks Of IL
a. found growing Ia Pennsylvania, and
New York. These states still produce .
large share Of the product Of The coun.
try. In 1856, or some 5000. 900 Of
bushels. It's cultivation. however, 10
rapidly extending through the Northern
and North western states. and the ma
final producers and their immediate
nsighbors.
5. vAuxrrEs OF BucwnEAr.-Buck
wheat belongs TO the Pssicaria tribe:
that commonly cultivated Is botanically
known ~ the Poiygcnum Fdgopyrum.
Among ils varieties are the blue OF "Ca-
madam buekwheas," very popular some
ten years since In Eastern New York and
Pennsylvania, and the "Scotch Gray"
now generally grown ~ far ~ we are
acquainted. A variety called Iudian
buckwhsst Up. Tdrtaricun.) Is grown
to some extent in New England. FOR fat
tsning swine. not producing hour pala-
tbls Is human food. The kernel IL
hard. coarse. aud nearly ovate. and the
product often large. often yielding, on
rich, new soil. one hudred bushels per
acre. Rut half bushel per acre, Of
seed. Is required. and il may be sown In
May, or ~ late 90 Auguct, though early
sowing Is most advisable. The Hour.
ground without boiling. 10 nearly the
color Of sulphur.
4. SorLs Asp CuLruRE.-Almost
any soil will produce buckwhsst, but Il
seems best suited with light, warm
lands, Of moderate fertility. II 10 -
we'll adapted - any grain 10 low. moist
lands. which dry OF late ia the spring.
and suffer from drough dvring the heats
Of summer. when early sown grain re-
quires most moisture. It terminates
quickly, and soon throws out sufficient
roots and leaves to secure q supply Of
water, poth from the soil and atmosphere.
The cultivation usually is simple TO plow
TIE land. after green sward. early 10 the
spring. then harrow or gang at the time
Of sowing. This grain Is often sown on
ground infested with weeds. which Il is
desired to subdue; in that case more
through preparation should be given.
that The entire surface may be entirely
covered. La all cases IL 10 best 20 have
the ground in fine tl,h, and generally 10
roll afssrhsrrowing in the seed. Though
buckwheat will grow without manure.
Il Tells the application ~ quick - any
other plant, and corresponding increase
Ia growth 10 produced. Plaster and
ashes exert an immediate influence and
benefit.
8. TixE or SOWING. --Axouxr ov
SEEp.-The time Of sowing 10 usually
bet wcen the Goth Of June and the 4th Of
July. though u may be sown sarlisr--as
soon ~ danger from late frosts II 10 be
feared no longer. Early sown buck wheat
10 liable 10 be blasted by the heat Of July
and August--late sown IL equally ex-
posed during the drouth often occurring
Ia September. and In addition 10 this
early frosis may cut II of ere Il begins
TO riprn. The sultvator must suit his
own convenience 10 this matter. remem-
bering that some lands are sooner Affect
oil by drouth and frosts than others.
The amount Of seed most generally sown.
Is one bushel per acre, but tits better to
employ less than more. especially on the
better soils: the great fault in sowing this
grain Is that too much seed 10 given.--
furd New Yorker.