The Hillsborough recorder., 1858-08-04
G1aAl 990I0lg
BUCKWHEAT.

BUCKWHEAT.
The cultivation Of this crop is becoming
quite common in this country. II is now
recognized as valuable production, easily
cultivated on any soil possessing tolerabe
ichness' and, ~ common seasons, 10 as GER
tain as any other crop. Light, sandy land
will, IL dressed with lime or wood ashes. be
certain to give better return cultivated in
this grian than in any other. The yield per
acre IS OF course variable, but in favorable
seasons the product may be set down from
thirty to forty bushels, but i: frequently ex,
ceeds that quantity, more frequently, per.
laps. than II TAILS short oft. When we'll matur.
ed, buckwheat constitutes a most excellent
feed Tor most animals. Ii should, however. be
ground before feeding, to prevent useless
waste. Pine plains land is perhaps the best
soil foI the cultivation Of this grain. When
new, II will produce abundantly; the kernel
WI! be plump and full, and the flour possess
degree OF sweetness superior to that Of the
same grain when grown on lands of a loamy
texture or 10 which there is a liberal adu,,x-
ture of clay. But, as most plains land are
destitute Oi lime, or contain it only in very
limited quantities, and as buckwheat belongs
10 the class OF lime plants. the application Of
caicafeons matter appears to be indispensable.
ihis may be supplied in part by wood ashes
Ont when lime can be obtained at a reason.
able Gust 4 vii be found more economical
aud efficient. The quantity will be found
70 vary from twenty-five to one hundred
bushels per acre.
My method of growing this gain en- light
soils i as follows: plow IN the autumn or
last Of August, turning in the vegetable mat.
Ter with deep and carefully inverted fur.
row. ! then roll and harrow. Nothing far
ther Is done for three weeks, when the har.
row IS again applied. the direction or draft
being across the furrOws. The operation
OF narrowing is repeated, after that, once
week till the ground freezes. As early in
the spring as the soil will permit apply m,
dressing. II this consists Of lime exclusively
u Is sosn on by hand, but have generally
used calcareOus matters in union with other
fertilizers where the soil is thin and Ight-a
practice rendered necessary, IN my opIu,un,
oy the deficiency Of humus obvious in such |
lands. The compost used for this purpose,
and which have invariably found admirably
adapted TO Effect the end designed, Is com.
posed Of the following ingredients. aud in tue
relative proportions named: Pond muck.
carted from the bed the previous autumn. ten
cords ;lOfesi scrapings, chip manure and clay, /
equal proportions. four cords gypsum, TWEEN.
~ bushels lime. unslackeJ, ten casks; M.
trate or soda, fifty pounds; common salt, sa
bushels, and wood ashes, fifty bushels. The
lime should be Stacked before applying II 10
lne mass aud thoroughly Incorporated with
the other ingredients. The salt may be dis.
solved and mixed with the gypsum aud wood
ashes; the whole being thrown together and
permitted TO remain fOr several weeks before 1
being used. Alter this cart il unto the land
aud spread il. Il is then narrowed in care.
fully aud turned under with light furrow.
Alter again narrowing ii-both the pillow and
harrow passing across the original lurrows--
the seed rs sown Three pecks being the quaq-
tity allowed per statute screl and covered in |
with light harrow, followed by the roll. /
The action Of the latter implement secures
an even and smooth surface, greatly facili. \
tating the process of harvesting. and prevents
the loss Of much valuable grain. As soon
as the plants are fairly up, top.dressing of
proudrette. about fifty pounds to the acre,
mixed wilh two bushels Of wood ashes and
one oushei Of gypsum, Is applied, and the 1
operation repeated every week until the pc.
Rod OF infiorescence. In harvesting the grain /
] commence as soon as the kernels on the
lower and midmost sprays are fully ripe, or
perhaps little before. | prefer damp or
even wet weather Tor cutting. The crop,
alter being moved. is pitched into small
bunehes aud allowed 10 remain for several
days. or till the foliage has fallen off, when il
is placrd IN cart aud conveyed Immediately
TO the barn and thrashed. 1.-THE grain should
be lamp. il will be advisable 10 spread il for
aiew days, and turn il frequently before pack.
ing, TO prevent lts becoming mouldy. Sc. |
we're losses frequently occur from neglect Of
this precaution. The grain germinates at
very low temperature, and when packed in \
humid state the heat produced by lcrmenta.
tiUn causes Il to sprOut, which greatly de. l
teriuratcs the quality of the -four Tor culinary l
purposes. The haulm Of buckwheat is used
Tor variety Of purposes. Chafcd aud mixed
with corn aud cob meal. Indian bran, shorts
OF rasped roots, IL makes quite q nutritious
food Tor must animals. II was formerly used
as litter IN stables, but as it's quite impos.
sible 10 thrash il perfectly clean, the practice
has been relinquisheJ by most farmers, as ii
tends to foul the soil BY the dissemination Of
the seed. Il may be used for mulclling trees
aud Tor several other purposes with good
advantage. but IN no way eau IL be appropri. |
ated 70 better advantage than by chatting and
feeding u TO young cattle. Hogs fed on
hue 4 ,,beat snush asc .t.,... L..ist. ~.