The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-12-24
VALUE OF BUCKwHEAT.
From tAe Prairie Fssm<r.

From tAs Prairie Fsrm<r.
Notvithstanding &buskwhoat ;eakea
arc almost universal tayorites With both
young and old, and in spite OF the tact
that this grain can be grown on almost
any soil, and will thrive we'll with in
different culture; still, most farmers
seem reluctant to spare even an acre or
two Of their poorest land, or to devote
an odd day to preparing it for this valua-
bic crop. 9No:erop is 50 easily raised as
buokwheat. Land that is worn out by
raising common wheat, or that which
is too rough or unsubdued for, The sP ".
pose, will yet produce a good yield 8
this grain. So, too, We need not BE- 80:
particular in relation to the time Of
sowing as We are in respect TO- sowing
wheat, barley and rye. Apart from
the grain itself, it will pay To- raise
buckwheat for the good il doesthe soil
by ,moliorating it and clearing it for
the production Of other crops. o. new
ground it exerts a highly beneficial in-
aueuco in disiutesratiug tho hard clay
Jumps, making them fine and more
easily worked, and fastening tho rot
ting Of the turf, which is firm and stub
born. As live mulch, among young
trees, it is particularly valuable; while
the straw will make an excellent win
ter protection after it has been tLresh-
ed. Besides these advantages, there
are few better or cheaper methods Of
manuriug worn out fields, than by
growing this grain, aud blowing it uu-
der when it has obtained its largest
growth. 49,:
But this crop is valuable for some
thing else than as means Of improv-
ing the soil and preparing it for the
production Of moro widely cultivated
crops. Though its price is fluctuating,
still tho value Of an aero of buckwheat
is ordinarily greater than an acre Of CON-
mon wheat; for though tho price per
bushel may bs only half as great, still
the number of bushels to the acre will
average more than twice as many. This
market is ordinarily indiffereutly sup
Piled With buekuheat -four, both as re-
CARDS quantity and quality. And
there are instances during the past few
years where the price Of buckwheat.
doar-notwithstanding it was very
largely adultcrated With wheat mid
dings-was fully equal to that Of
the best -four from white winter wheat.
The oheapness Of raising this crop
should also commend it to the farmer.
Al We have before said, it will thrive
on Indifferent land, and with indiffer-
ent culture; the expense, too, of seed
is very small, as half bushel is sufh-
oient for an acre, if the land is in good
condition.
1t is untimely now to give direc-
tons for the field management Of this
crop, other than those which pertain to
harvesting, which should be done when
about half the seed are ripcncd. Some
prefer to cut it *hen only a third of
the seed arc ripe, arguing that the i'm
mature seeds will draw sustenance
from the succu!ent stalks, aud thus fill
out after the grain is cut. It. is al
ways advisable to harvest this crop be-
fore many Of the seeds fall, and to cut
it in such manner SO there will be as
little loss Is possible. On this account
many farmer. prefer to cut it early in
the morning, or after the dew has fall
en- at-night, and such q practice is,
without doubt, = good one. When the
stalks stand up we'll they may be cut
with cradle; but when the growth is
rank there is generally a tendency to
lodge, which makes it necessary to use
the scythe instead. There is no need
to bind this grain into sheayes, as Is
the cas6with rye, wheat or barley as
the stalks have so many lateral trunks
it is only necessary to roll tho swath
over with a rake, when they will en-
twine and form bundle that can be
moved With care without tho aid of
band.
1t is never desirable to stack buck
wheat, As is the case with other grain.
All that is necessary to insure its being
properly cured, is to stand up tho bun
dies singly or in small shocks, for ten
or twelve days, when it will be ready
to be threshed. 1t is a grain whose
berry does not suffer much injury from
exposure to rain, being protected by SO
etrong aud thick a covering; but it is
always desirable to thresh it as soon as
it is thoroughly dried, to prevent loss
from Smelling out. Ifpains are taken
to protect the straw after and before
it is threshod, it make very good fod-
der for cattle, and an excellent litter
for horses and pigs.
This grain, besides its use for hu-
man food, is Of great value to feed to
poultry, and persons who havo tried it
recommend it a. one Of the best things
to feed to homes, when it is desirable
TO quickly put them in good condition
in regard to flesh, and bring out sleek
glossy coat Of hair.
Some persons object to the use Of
buckvheat on the table, on the ground
that it 'genders cutaneous diseases