Nebraska advertiser., 1881-08-18
Merits OF Buckwheat as a Farm Crop.

McrltS or BuckWheat as a Farm Crop.
Buckwheat is one OF the most valua-
bic of our cereals, both for table use
and as food for stock. The ordinary
black or gray variety has been the only
sort grown until within afew years, and
careful culture of the silver hull has
demonstrated that it is in every way
much more valuable especially for the
indispensable "griddle cake" 1t is
much more productive and yields under
the same conditions larger crops The
husk is thinner and there is much less
waste in the manufacture Of flour which
is whittier and more nutritious. Buck
wheat, with the exception of barley, is
less exhaustive TO the soil than any of
our small grains, although many think
otherwise, but since IL will grow on
soils SO devoid of fertility that other
grains would hardly yield the seed sown
seems to be sufficient proof that such is
the case.
This grain does well on both light
and heavy soils and may be sown from
the 9th OF July TO the 25th in time TO
ripen before early frosts. From three
pecks TO bushcl is sown to the acre,
the former quantity if the soil is in good
condition. There is no crop grown on
the farm that Is so easily grown as this,
while the yield will average from ten TO
twenty bushels to the acre IL is great
exterminator of all kinds of weeds aud
foul grass, and for this reason may be
sown on land where such intruders need
10 be rooted out. Some farmers after
moving n crop of grass pillow and SOW
10 buckwheat and in the spring follow
ing set to tobacco, very good way
since the land will be free from weeds
during the culture of the "weed" with
the exception of the springing up here
and there of the seeds of the wheat left
at harvesting.
TO the farmer who fattens many
hogs this grain will be found very val
liable. 1t is heating and, therefore,
valuable for winter food. 1t should be
mixed with corn, or with corn, oats
and rye and at least two-thirds of any
''grist' should be other grains. To the
poultry breeder it is indispensable and
is not exceeded in value as u valuable
food for fowls unless itbo refuse wheat,
while many think it equally good. 1t
will stimulate the production of eggs,
while its warming and heating qualities
render il valuable during the cold, win
ter months. The straw .by many is
burned ON the field, but stock will eat
il in the yard fled occasionally II small
quantity, while if cut fine and sprinkled
with little meal it may be fed at least
three or four times week, thereby
saving n large amount of more valuable
fodder.
This Grain is raised i'm all PARTS of
New England, and in New York, Penn
syivania and Ohio is staple New
York and Pennsylvania produce two
thirds of the crop grown in the country,
while some of the western States pro-
duce a small quantity. Large quaint
ties of the grain are Toured, and our
large cities and towns, more especially,
use il largely during winter, and it is to
the families of New England and the
Middle States ut the breakfast table
what hoe cake is to the Southern
er Almost every farmer has some
ground adapted for its culture, and it
will be found a profitable crop to grow.
We know of an old farmer who stacks
his buckwheat straw after it has been
threshed in one corner of his barn-yard
for his stock to feed on when turned
into the yard during the winter. We
asked him if his cattle would eat it.
''Oh, yes was the reply. when turn
them out for the first time and they 90
To the stack to feed, get whip and
drive them away, and holler at them
whenever | see them around it, and in
this way they eat it all up. h-COr.
Springfield (MaSS.) Republican.