Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-08-29
A6RgGa9Ga899.
rFroDr fhs Farmer Il Carl
RuCKWHEAT.

Tbe lirbt eravely soils of very many por-
,ious of our State are especially adapted 10 tue
raising of Buckwheat, and as 1t is crop
which can be put in gathered within shorter
perioi than almost any other, 1t special claims
unop a very large number Of our farmers
But Buekwheat is desirable crop. not mere
" upon the lighter soils, but upon richer and
heavier ones True it does not generally
proye so directly remunerative as a crop 1t
self, but by some, as yet undiscovered pro-
cess il exerts most desirable mechanical ef-
feet upon heavy SOIL separating the particles
of soil into minute subdivisions and htting IL
admirably for subsequent crops As an anu
weed or bramble crop, it has no equal "nile
its merits as green crop, plowed IN and al
lowed to lie aud decompose until tue Iolo"ing
spring, are too little understood
Rnckwheat. as general thing, is not to be
highly recommended for food, that Is. not as
q regular article. Its occasional use IS not
hurtful. but its tendency to lay the founda-
ton for diseases of the skin, where 1t Is large
" INDUCED in, Suggests the proPriety OF using
it moderately. AS food for stock Its quail
ties are more desirable. particularly when boil
ed or scalded, and fed with cooked potatoes,
corrots &c. [, is invaluable for fowls. and
affords most desirable forage for bees, partlc-
ularly. as it flowers in a season when but few
other plants in bloom.
The cultivation of Buckwheat is simple
process. The proper time for putting IN the
crop Is Immediately after harvest. One bush
cl of seed should be sown to the acre. Where
it is cultivated for the seed only, it is best,
(where choice of soils is to be had) to select
a mellow loose one, as it grows so rank upon
rich heavy land, that in favorable seasons 1t Is
almost certain to lodge or fall. Wet or moist
land should always be avoided for Buck
wheat.
Considerable caution is necessary IL har-
vesting Buckwheat. When ripe, 1t sheds Its
seeds very readily, and for this reason some
persons prefer pulling it; this; however, is a
slow ani upro6table process. Where 1t stands
up, the cradle Is the most effective and gen.
orally used implement; but when 1t has fallen
or lodged, the scyte is to be preferred. There
are several important points to be observed
in cutting of Buckwheat. Some contend that
it should be done when the seeds have turn
ed brown, others say two-thirds. A writer
says, s.perhaps the best time is when one
half of the seeds have turned brown, as the
straw is very succulent and the seed will fill
out and ripen perfectly after cutting from the
juice contained in it" If allowed to ripen
pretty thoroughly, it should then be always
cut when the dew is on it. in order that loss
of seed by shattering may be prevented. From
the great succulency of the straw, the stack
ing or housing of Buckwheat with safety i:
impossible. The common plan is to gather il
In sheayes or bundles. which should be set OF
end without binding, and remain ten or twelv,
days before it is taken in for threshIng. L
put into large heaps aud allowed to remain
without stirring, it heats and become moul
dy.
The japanese Buckwheat. decription o
which was given or page 90, Vol 1, F & G
is not supposed to be adapted to cultivation
here. though it is said to yield abundantly
1t is fed to horses, cattle, swine and poultry
and cakes are made from the meal as from or
binary Buckwheat. The young shoots ar
eaten by the japanese as we eat those Aspar
agus.