The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-01-06
agricultural.
T. H. HOSklNS, M. D., Editor,
Newport, Vermont.
Buckwheat, Clover, Etc.


loan land free from lime, or where the
water is soft. Also the best substitute
for June pastures to feed cows. Also
how much manure it will pay to apply
to the acre. Also about the fall feed
ing of meadows"
REPLY BY AGRICULTURAL EDITOR.-
We have had but little experience
with India wheat Trough buckwheat,
Tartarian buckwheaD, but many of our
neighbors grow it, and its culture is
very simple. 1t is a harder and more
productive variety than the smooth
buckwheats (of which there are
several varieties), and is generally pre-
ferred for cultivation northward, es-
pecially in the Province of Quebec and
Northern New England. Farther south,
buckwheat is grown as a second crop
after barley, rye or oats, but where
India wheat is commonly grown it is
made an all-season crop, though often
used on late or rough pieces of ground
From three to six pecks is sown, the
land having been plowed and narrowed
as usual for grain crops. The better
the land, the lighter the seeding needs
to be. If planted late, or in dry
time, the seed should be thoroughly
covered by narrowing, and rolled, if the
condition of the land admits of rolling,
otherwise the seed will not grow. Plas-
ter is recommended as good and cheap
fertilizer for this crop. AS regards
harvesting, this is rather peculiar
crop The seed is held by a very
slender stalk, and drops easily when
dry, so that it has to be handled with
great care. For this reason it is cut
when the dew is on it, and laid in small
gavels or punches to dry. These may
be lightly turned, and a favorable OPP
portunity taken to get the crop to the
barn. A large sheet in the rack or
wagon will save good deal of shelled
grain. 1t should be thrashed at once,
dry windy day being best for the job,
and the grain must be winnowed
promptly, as it is very apt to heat in
the chaff. The grain also requires at
tention to keep it from heating in the
bin, and needs frequent shoveling over
to air it. When nicely got and kept,
and rightly ground, the rough buck
wheat makes excellent flour for cakes,
and is valuable feed for swine and poul-
try. Green buckwheat is often cut for
fodder, and some have called it equal to
clover for that purpose, but it is hurt
full to sheep. 1t has also been used on
poor soil as green crop to be plowed
under for enrichment, but for this
purpose it is far inferior to winter rye,
sown in September and plowed down
the following June, just before head
ing out.
We have been writing in favor of
clover for green manuring this twenty
years, but as yet know of very few
farmers who have ever tried it, or con-
tinued long to do so, in New England.
The feed is too tempting, and it looks
so much like waste that the best most
farmers will do in this direction is some
times to pillow down a second crop of
clover in the fall. 1t is our opinion
that this is better, any way, than plow-
ing down the first crop of the first year,
as the best results are obtained from
clover that has made its full root
growth. We believe that Oh account
of its strong and deeply penetrating
roots the red clover is very fertilizing
crop, any way, and if farmer will
summon up enough courage to try we
are sure no money will be lost to him
in blowing under crop of it. Where
winter wheat is much grown, especially
in Western New York, this has long
been common practice, and many
have believed it possible to go on alter
mating clover and wheat in this way
forever. But that has not been tried
yet. AS regards the culture of clover
on loans where the water is soft, we
do not consider the latter fact as GER
tain evidence of the lack of lime in the
soil, or of the want of any necessary
plant-food, for the growth of clover
Our land is of exactly that character
but clover grows well on it. What is
called g clover-sick land is very com
mon in Europe, but we have never
seen such. Plaster, which is composed
of lime and sulphur, seems to be every
where special fertilizer for clover
but more likely from the action of the
sulphuric acid than the lime. WOOD
ashes is also first-class manure fo
clover, used either unleached orleached
the latter having a very strong effec
on the growth of white clover.
The best substitute for pasturage il
June is winter rye, which, if sown earl,
in October, will be just right to Gu
about apple-blooming time. But w
should not want to keep many cows OIL
farm where the pasturage is oftel
Cbnrt in Innn