The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-10-13
Haryestib z iSUckWheat.

GENERALLY speaking, where the land
is in good condition, other cEOps pay bet
ter in their immediate return, and AWAY s
leave the land il better heart, than buck
wheat. Bat TO subdue new lalds, or to
kill the weeds out Of old, no crop is so
valuable.
The best soil for buck wheat is light
sandy loan, but it will grow nearly ever
ywhere, and the crop is always meas
ured not so much by the soil az the sea-
son. Il the autumn Is dry, the blooms
will be abundsnt, but the kernels scarce,
seven-eighths failing to fill. In most 10
calities this year, if the farmers gather as
much as they sowed, they will do well,
The unequal ripening Of this grain--some
of the seeds being in a condition TO be
ground while there are flowers on the
same Stalk--makes the exercise Of good
judgment as TO the time Of cutting unusu-
ally needful.
AS q general thing, when it has ceased
Towering, and most OF the green heads
are full, or when there is immediate fear
of frost, 1t should be cut. If it is rea-
sOnably ripe, 1t should be Graded when
the dew is on, or during some cloudy day.
Within twenty-four hours after cutting,
it should be raked into gaVels and ses up
on the butts, giving the heads syOu do 50
a slight twist, and laying the whole in the
shape of q small pyramid. II can stand
in this condition some time without in
jur, if the punches that are blown over
are Immediately lighted up again.
After the grain stalks have become per-
fectly dry, they should be threshed. II
the quantity is large, it had better be
done in the field where the crop grew.
Selecting a level spot, clear off the top
soil, say three inchesin depth or more, and
then pound with the back OF a shovel or
maui the uncovered earth till the surface
is reas onably hard, then sweep this ex-
tempOrized floor thoroughly to remove all
the loose earth, and the floor is ready.
Select g day which follows a dry
night, and at eleven o'clock commence,
keeping a team hauling small loads and
tipping them On to inc prepared floor, and
from two to four men at work with fails
and FORKS, knocking out the grain, which
single blow will serve TO dislodge, and
removing the straw To a stack near by.
as early as four O'Clock com.oence to
clean up, so that the uncertainties of the
next day can be provided against, taking
the grain IN bags to the granary, and III
this way continue until the work is done.
If the barn is near and the acres few,
it would be better to take the whole To
the barn floor, allowing the grain and
chat to remain until the whole IS finished,
to preyenS cracking the seed with the feet
Or by the fails
Ii the straw is stacked, cattle will Ell
some Of il, pulling it out as the notion
takes them. Sheep will sometimes, foI
lack OF aHy thing better, eat a little, but
they do not generally hanker after it, nor
would they grow lat It fed ON IL alone
The straw which remains after the win
ter Id over may be spread in the barnyard
or it can be used for bedding, mixed witt
straw. Il is not remarkably valuable .:
an absorbent, but is worth saving.
AS 10 the use of buckwheat, the flour is
highly valued for breakfast cakes; tn
grain, mixed with corn, rye, or oats
makes an acceptable provendor; and a.
to feed for hens, no grain is better from
December to March, and, 10 some extent
throughout the year.-HeGrth and Home