Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-06-08

HUNGARIAN GRASS, OR GERMAN Buck
wHEAT.-There is a grass, or grain, called
"Hungarian Grass, or German Buckwheat,
which is extensively raised in Iowa, where 1t
was first introduced by Hungarian exiles. An
extensive farmer of Abba, Monroe county,
Iowa, says ''that for foraging purposes 1t is
superior 10 either Timothy, Red-Top, Glover,
Oats, or anything else you can name He
asserts I" that cattle and horses will leave
everything else to eat it. Chickens, turkeys,
and hogs, will fatten on the seeds, of which
it will yield from thirty to fifty bushels to the
acre. 1t is certain to produce good crop in
any season; at least, so it has proved for the
last fouriyears." He states that the premium
crop. for the county of Monroe, was eight tons
and two hundred pounds Of good dry hay per
acre. That was raised on common prairie,
without any manure. He says that the COM
mon time Of sowing it with them is from the
tenth of May to the first of july but thinks
about the twentieth of May is the best time.
1t appears from what this gentleman writes,
that he considers a crop Of this grass to be
equally good one of Timothy and one
Of oats, at the same time from the same land.
1t will be valuable if cut in five or six weeks
after it is sown, but will stand three months
without injury.
A gentleman at Yellow Springs, Green
county, Ohio, has sent circular to all our
post offices, stating that he will send to any
individual by mail, sufficient quantity of
this seed to SOW one square rod, for the sum
Of fifteen cents, "free of postage" This will
cost our farmers at the rate of 1924 per acre,
aside from all their trouble. "But as good
luck will have it, as the saying Isl there is
plenty of this seed in our vicinity, and what
is better, it was raised here in our own State,
on our own soil, and i'll our own climate;
thus proving that it is adapted to the wants of
farmers in the State Of Vermont, as we'll as
in Iowa or Ohio
Some three or four years since traveller
passing through Middlesex, stopped at the
Mlddlesex House, owned and kept by A. l..
Chamberlin, Esq, and left him about a table
spoonful of the seed, which he gave INTO the
care of a neighbor of his, telling him that ne
might raise it ito the halves He, Mr.. Judd,
the neighbor, sowed it in his garden, and
raised from it one-halt bushel of seed, al.
though the birds and barn-fowls DESTROYED
quite portion Of it.
1t requires about eight quarts of seed to the
acre, If you sow for seed if Tor grass, sixteen
quarts. II should not be allowed to stand
too long, but cut early, in order to secure it
from Smelling and from birds, Mr.. Chamber
lin says that he saw a piece containing lust
six square rods, from which MIR. Judd har-
vested two bushels of seed, weighing sixty
pounds per bushel.
The grass is not only good for forage, but
the grain, when ground and bolted, stands
high as an article of food for the table, to be
used for making warm sweet cakes, griddle
cakes, &c. For grass, two crops may be RAISED
in one season.
Mr. Judd states that Germans seeing this
grass and grain, pronounce 1t to be the verta-
BILE Hungarian grass, or German buck wheat
1t farmers wish to try this crop, they can be
supplied with the seed, and obtain all needed
information in regard to it, by applying to the
Postmaster or to A. l.. Chamberlin, Middle
sex, VT, who can furnish sufficient seed to
soy fifty or sixty acres, at cost not exceeding
two dollars per acre, instead of twenty four,
as from Ohio. The expense of getting this
seed is so small, that every farmer may i'm.
prove the opportunity of trying the expert
ment at trHing cost and if what is said of
1t can be relied upon, as L think it can, it will
prove an invaluable acquisition TO the staple
agricultural products of the State of Vermont.
1t is peculiarly adapted to our coolest aud
most back. ward FARMS and it requires but
season OF from eight to twelve weeks to come
to maturity. Would not our farmers do well
to give it a trial , Green Mountain Freeman.