American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-07-11
bet, en- the 1st and 28th Of July,

soon as danger from late frosts is to
be feared no longer. Early sown
buckwheat is liable to be blasted by
the heat of July and August-late
sown is equally exposed during the
drouth often occurring in September,
and in addition to this early frosts
may cut it off, ere it begins to ripen.
The cultiyator must suit his own con-
venience in this matter-remember-
ing that some lands are sooner affec
ted by drouth and frosts than others.
The amount Of seed most generally
sown, is one bushel per acre, but it is
better to employ less than more, es-
pecially on the better soils. The
great fault in sowing this grain is
that TOO much seed is given.
7. Buckaoheat to Destroy Weeds
Buckwheqt is a cleansing crop to the
soil, and is often sown mainly for the
purpose of clearing land of weeds,
and fitting for the higher cereal
grains. Its roots penetrate deep in
to the soil, which tends to its pulver-
ization, and the outrageous charac-
ter of its growth, spreading over the
surface, almost forbids any other
plant, however strong its foothcld,
from growing beneath its branches.
Hence it is invaluable on every kind
of land, but more particularly on
heavy, moist soils, most likely to be
infested with weeds and bushes, and
less easily worked for other cleansing
crops.
Even Canada thistles, those pests
of the farm cannot contend success
fully with successive crops of this
grain. Plow thoroughly as soon as
the soil is sufficiently warm for rapid
vegetation, SOW on buckwheat and it
will start at once, and soon get above
the sprouting thistles, and keep above
them through the season. Thu sha-
ded, they can scarcely grow, and the
same course followed second season
will almost entirely eradicate them.
Some farmers SOW buckwheat one
year, following with oats, and seed to
clover, with excellent effect in puri-
fying the soil. 1t is generally found
that corn cannot be grown success
fully after buckwheat; why,we know
not.
8. Buckwhedt as Mdnawe.-
Growing where clover will not -four
ish, and in so short time, first to
plow under in six or eight weeks }
this plant is often employed as a rem
ovator of exhausted soils. The CO.
pious foliage, and easy decomposition
of the stalk, together with its depth
and extent of roots, and the source
whence it derives the greater portion
of its supplies, render buckwheat
crop peculiarly favorable for this sys-
TEN. Three crops may be plowed
under in a single season, and a single
crop equals in effect dressing of
manure applied at considerable great
er cost.
9. Harvesting and Threshing,-
Though the blossoms continually
forming will produce grain as late as
the season will allow, the first ripen-
ed is heaviest and most valuable. 1t
should be cut, perhaps, as soon as
the lower leaves begin to die, and
with the cradle, if possible. If a
frost should occur, and any portion
of the grain, be ripe, it is best to har-
vest as once. After cutting, the
swaths are raked into small bunch
es, and set upright with the heads
twisted together-leaving each bun
die to stand alone, the butts spread
and resting upon the ground. Rain
Injuries it but little, if thus treated,
and it may stand for several weeks,
or until thoroughly cured.
Buckwheat shells very easily, and
much waste often occurs before the
crop is secured. Care in handling
and use Of tight bottom-boards for
the wagon or sled upon which it is
drawn to the barn, will preveut this
loss to considerable extent. In
case some other grain which would
be injured by the mixture, is to fol-
low this crop, some means must be
used to extirpate it from the soil
Swine will consume much of that w.
ing on the surface, and lightly har-
rowing will cause the remnant to veg
etate, and the first frost will destroy
the young plants.
Threshing buckwheat upon the
bare ground in the open field, is but
little practised at present. 1t is we'll.
however, that it be threshed as soon
as drawn in, or if this may not be,
it should remain in the barn until
freezing weather, and it will thresh
more easily.
10. Use as Stock Feed, etc.-By
itself, this grain is not generally val
ued very highly for feeding stock,
unless it be for poultry. Mixed with
oats, and ground, it furnishes a cheap
and good food for horses, especially
if not required to labor hard.-Some
dairvInan recommend - oa on axcaI