The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-08-30
FARMERS COLUMN.
Harvesting BucIs.yheat.

Buckwheat being easily grown, succeeding
on poorly prepared soil, giving a quick re-
turn, and generally yieldinga remunerative
harvest, is favorite crop with inexper-
fenced farmers. Still it requires peculiar
treatment in the harvesting, and those who
are not acquainted with it are apt TO make
mistakes 1t requires cutting before it is
fully malured and its habit Of throwing
out blossoms at the top until killed
by frost, is apt TO mislead. When frost
is isexpccted, the crop should be cut, and many
immature grains will become perfect in
few days during which it is drying in the
field. Whenever the lower branches are
well loaded with ripe grains, it may be CUT
this should be done with the cradle, and
while the stalks are damp with dew or
moist after a shower. The grains are loose
ly attached to their stalks, and are easily
shaken off in the cutting or raking, unless
these are carefully done.
After the swaths have LAID for a few days
for the grains to ripen, the buckwheat is
in graves or loose stocks, without being
bound the tops being gathered together as
much as possible. In this condition the
crop remains until ii is thrashed. As it heats
very rapidly it should never be put into q
stack, nor moved away in a barn, as has
been sometimes done by inexperienced far.
mers. When the buckwheat is sufficiently
cured and dry, and the unripe grains have
matured, it may be thrasbed by treading out
with horses, with the frail, or the thrashing
machine. 1t is frequently thrashed in The
field, by making a bed of cleanly swep
ground and beating the swept surface al
hard as possible with a rammer made o
plank. The grayels are placed in a circle
upon the bed thus prepared, the heads to
wards the centre, and to a depth of two feet
A pair of horses are ridden around over th,
bed until the straw is freed from the grain
when it is removed and a new bed is laiC
down. When the whole has been thu
trampled out, the straw is raked off, tht
fanning-mill is brought out, and the grair
cleaned up at once. When the grain ha
been cleaned, It cannot be safely put away
until it has been well dried, or it will hea
and spoil. 1t should be spread upon a dry
floor in an airy shed or barn, and turned
over repeatedly until it is dry, and then i
may be stored in hns or in the granary. 4
dry, breezy day should be chosen for tn
thrashing. If the thrashing machine is useC
the concave should be removed, and piec
of smooth plank put in its place, else mucl
Of the grain will be broken and lost. If th
straw is at all damp, it should be fed int
the machine slowly, otherwise it is apt t.
wind around the cylinder and give trouble
The grain should be cleaned from the chat
soon after thrashing, as there is much dan
ger of heating and moulding, by which tn
quality and yield of the flower will be great
ly lessened. The first buckwheat flour il
the market brings the best price, and it i
pot unusual for the price to fall one
half in few days, after the first demant
for new -four has been met. 1t is a crop +
dispose of as soon as possible, at least as re
CARDS that portion intended for sale. Whei
taken to the mill for grinding, dry, windl
day should be chosen, as the best quality o
flour can be made only in such weather
indeed, few millers will grind this grain
unless Obliged to do so, in any other wealth
than that described.-Am. AtriculturiSt.