Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-06-27
Culture OF BuckWheat.

Neglect too often attends the cultivation of
the land intended for buckwheat, and the
poorest and worst-conditioned land is usually
given this crop. Besides, from the lateness
of putting it in, the land becomes grassy, and
il cannot be plowed well without the grass
making its appearance to the detrment of
the crop, with no benefit to the land. Now,
instead of this treatment, the buckwheat
field, worked after the springs sowing, af-
fords chance to improve the land and in
sure good crop-decidedly a paying one if
the season is favorable. Buckwheat is some
what peculiar, as with a favoring season and
n heavy growth the income is sometimes sur
prising. l have known a single crop pay for
the purchase of the land at S4O per acre
The land was plowed early enough to rot the
sod, and re-plowed Just before sowing. If
put in good condition, it does not need TO be
very rich. What it needs is ripe and uniform
fertility; it does not want wet soil turned up
and exposed to the hot sun, as l have often
seen, thus injuring rather than beneftting the
land. Instead buckwheat should be made the
means (as there is a chance for it, to reclaim
or improve the soil. II can be made TO equal,
if not exceed, the effect of summer fallow,
and with less eXpnese-the crop so densely
shading the ground and from the start, that
not a weed or grass blade can survive all
is smothered by the exclusion of air and light,
the ground kept comparatively moist and
mellow, and the texture thus improved. The
farmer who, therefore, does not avail himself
of advantages here offered, misses his oppor-
tunity, unless he is among tine fortunate ones
who have their land all improved. Even then
buckwheat is benefit TO the soil, as there is
less expense of cultivation, and the weeds are
edectually kept at bay. 1t also adds TO the
variety of crops
The time for sowing buckwheat here is
from the 10Th of June TO the 4th Of July.
Half bushel per acre is seed enough, as on
rich ground it stools out we'll This is better
than TO have it closer and denser. 1t should
be branching, giving thus more room for
blossoms, and afording protection against the
direct rays of the sun, the plant thus being in
ameasure self-protecting, favoring the lower
or partially hidden seeds, which sometimes
are to be depended upon for the crop, the
more exposed or outside being blasted. In
stead, therefore, of giving it careless treat
ment buckwheat requires careful manage
ment. The selection Of soil is of some i'm
portanee, q sandy loan being better than clay.
A stiff clay must be brought into friable con-
dition before it is fit to grow this crop sue
cessfully. Sod or green crops turned under,
or coarse manure worked in, rotting and mix
ing well soil and manure, will do it. Avoid
all wet soil for buckwheat unless first drained
We have here a real renovator of the soil, and
get good crop besides. Sometimes, howev-
er, the crop gets blasted. When this is the
case turn it down. Instead of being a mis-
fortune it will be found to be benefit, af
fording large quantity of good material, de
caying readily, and having good effect up
on the soiL-CoyyssFohdeHeec Of Country Gen