Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-01-17
A Word for Back wheat.

A recent article in an agricultural
paper against the cultivation Of this
grain calls for reply. Although we
cant SOW buckwheat Mt this season of
the year, we can point out its good
qualities and remember them until
sowing time comes again.
Ever in your rich, heavy soils, where
buckwheat and beans are held only in
derision, and referred TO as the main
stay of the farmer on light, sandy
soils, you can afford TO relax your ag-
ricultural dignity sufficiently to SOW q
small patch Of buckHheat And, in
fact, you can't afford to do otherwise.
What farmer is there that has not
some rough, ragged piece OF ground,
which needs the mellowing, spulyeriz-
ing effect caused by cropping with
buckwheat9 Or he may have spot OF
land hardly dry enough to SOW in
season for other kinds of grain, but
which, by june or July, will be in
good condition for this crop. Sowing
at this time does not interfere with
other and, perhaps, more important
work. II can also be harvested after
the pressure of other work is over,
consequently this crop is very cheap
and convenient one to handle. 1t very
often yields thirty bushels to the acre,
which is no mean return, even from
good land, considering the small ex-
pense of seeding and harvesting. No
farmer should be without few bushels
of this grain, as q small amount fed
occasionally is good for all kinds of
stock
For fowls it is an excellent feed,
ranking next to corn or wheat, in my
experience. When ground with oats
and corn it forms most wholesome
diet for horses, cattle and hogs. Those
who have been accustomed to the good
old plan Of having hot buckwheat
cakes for breakfast, will also join with
me in my plea for n small patch OF this
most excellent though much abused
grain.
Buckwheat has gained bad name
through the slackness Of n large class
of farmers who never get their grain
sown in season, and who, as last re-
sort, SOW buckwheat instead of the 9TH
er grains, which should have been
sown weeks before. Good farmers thus
get an idea that buckwheat and bad
farming are inseparable and charge to
buckwheat what they should Justly
charge to the shiftless management Of
the farmer.
II is very often the case that q por-
ton of corn field is ruined by late
ireshct, and in many cases this land is
allowed to lie idle the remainder of the
season when it might be made to yield
n profitable income by sowing buck
wheat. The benefit to the land would
repay the farmer for the labor eXpend-
ed. 1t is a great injury to land TO lie
and bake ali through the long hot sum
mer months, saying nothing of the
weeds thus propagated, Land may be
rested by following and constant stir
ring, rs it is then storing up food gath
cred from the atmosphere, without Civ
inc out any Of the same in the way Of
either grain or seeds.
Buckwheat, like clover. draws much
Of its nourishment from the atmos-
phere For this reason it makes q
most excellent crop to pillow under
when green Its coarse, stocky growth
gives it mechanical value for this
purpose even superior to clover, max
ing the soil lie up light and loose, so
that it is more readily pulycrized by
the action Of frost, air and water.
The hot, dry weather of August will
sometimes blight and ruin piece of
buckwheat Just rs it is nicely filling
out. When you are sure it is ruined
for harvesting, just put the pillow into
the field and turn it under You will
surely get the full value of the crop in
this way, though it may be a dIsap-
pointment to get no grain for home
use.
Those who keep bees viii find IN adj
diuonal argument for raising buck
wheat, rs it yields great quantity of
honey, although slightly colored and
with not so agreeable flavor as that
made from white clover. The land in
tended for buckwheat should receive q
good narrowing both ways before sow
ing. r. y. BoyHton IN ohio Farmer.