The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-12-14
JAPANESE BUcKwHEAT.
PROF. COOKS EXPERIENCE WITH 1T,
AS TO THE AMOUNT OF YIELD,
SIZE OF SEED, QUALITY OF
FLOUR, AND A YIELD
Err OF HONEY.
Err OF HONEY.

FLOUh, AND A YIELD
Err OF HONEY.
FRIEND Roof :-As you requested,
[ send you my conclusions after raising
a crop Of japanese buckwheat, l
thought at the time, that So 90 per
bushel was good deal to pay for seed /;
but now after raising the crop do not
regret that paid it. I sowed one.half
early in June and the remainder late
in the samo month. Thus the field was
in blossom long time, When tho
blossoms 6rst opened. the bees visited
them freely, though upon close obser-
walton it was found that the bees cease
gathering from these flowers some time
before the flowers fade. Again, yon
know that common report hath it, that
bees will not work after MONDAY on the
flowers Of common buckwheat. This
was not true this season ON our Japanese
variety. We observed bees on the
flowers at all times of the day. But
what astonished US all was the prolific
ness Of the buckwheat, and the great
size of the berry. All who saw it said
they never saw it's equal. sowed it
on the site Of an old brick.kiln-solid
clay soil with almost no humus, and
yet I had fairly good crop. 1 took
two bushels to mill, that we might test
the -four. The miller said he never
saw so little waste in buckwheat, nor
such enormous kernels. Of course,
the little waste would follow from the
large size of the kernel. We have
tested the -four in griddle- cakes with
maple syrup, and pronounce it A No. I
DR. Beal says he believes this is our
common buckwheat Fdsopyram esculem
tum. AS buckwheat is native of
North Asia, this is quite likely true i;
but one has only to see the two side
by side, to be convinced that this Jap.
anese is distinct and well.marked va
riety.
Before closing, let me suggest why
farmers. especially bee.keeping farmers,
should SOW buckwheat as part of their
crop rotation, First, it is sown late in
June, and the com parative leisure after
planting gives opportunity to prepare
the ground. Secondly, it is an excel
lent crop to precede corn on land that
is infested with wire.worms. 1t seems
te starve out these terribly destructive
grubs. Again, it is a profitable crop.
often paying as well or better than
does wheat. 1t also gives US the basis
Of our buckwheat cakes, which with
maple syrup VIII tempt the..most capric-
ious appetite. Last, buckwheat fur
nishes oftimes abundant nectar for the
bees when all else fails.
A. J. Cook.
Agricultural College, Mich.
Prof. Cook is the distinguished en-
tomologist of Michigan Agricultural
College, who furnished the above report
to Gleaaings of his experiment with
japanese Buckwheat. This buckwheat
is receut importation from japan, and
all who have tried it report it to be an
unprecedented yielder of grain. The
grain is much larger than the common
buckwheat and Prof. Cook pronounces
the -four of superior quality. We hope
some Of our enterprising farmers will
be induced to give the Japanese grain
a trial next season. Any who feel like
doing soif they will apply to US we
will aid them in procuring seed at as
low price as it is possible to be had.