West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-06-15
Grow BnckMhent

Buckwheat is at present grown i'm
this country almost wholly i'm the
states east OF the Mississippi river
and north OF the cotton belt. About
seven-tenths OF the crop is sown i'm the
two states, New York and Pennsyl-
vania. but IL is important In several
other states, principal among which
are Michigan. West Virginia. Vir-
ginia, Wisconsin and Ohio. In the
more northern states buckwheat can
be sown over practically the entire
area without reference To elevation.
but farther south IL Is confined to the
uplands and mountainous sections.
Buckwheat should be sown on land
prepared as for corn. II is an excel
lent crop TO SOW where corn has been
planted but whore stand has not
been secured. Best results are OBJ
tanned where the land Is plowed early
and is we'll prepared but fairly good
results can be obtained by sowing i'm
mediately after plowing and harrow
ing.
Buckwheat should generally be
seeded at the rate OF 8 or pecks per
acre. II the soil is fertile and n drill
is used and the seed is OF good vital
ity, as little as . pecks may be sufi-
cient. As much as pecks are some
times sown II Is best to use a grain
drill, but this is not essential, as the
seed can be broadcasted and narrowed
in with satisfactory results. It
should be sown from one-nfth of an
inch TO inches deep. depending on
the condition OF the soil.
There is probably no other crop that
will produce better on infertile. poor
ly titled lands than will buckwheat
IL is we'll suited to light well-drained
soils. such as sandy loans. and TO the
silt loan soils. IL needs but little
lime, growing we'll i'm acid soils with
out lime, where alfalfa and red clover
would not succeed. When the soil is
poor, II is profitable to use fertilizer.
but where good wheat or corn crops
can be produced without fertilizer. Il
Is unnecessary for the buckwheat
crop. on the poorest hill land small
application Of nitrogen and phosphor-
as is advisable, but generally nitrogen
is not needed The plan responds very
readily to applications OF phosphates.
however. Low-grade fertilizers con
tanning phosphorus and small
amount OF potassium can be used to
advantage on the crop where the land
is poor.
Three varieties OF bucKwneat are
commonly grown I'm the United States.
Japanese, Silver Hull, and Common
Grey, the first two being most gener-
ally used. Japanese has large dark
colored seed. while the Silver Hull has
a smaller seed, glossy or silvery I'm ap-
pearance. These two varieties are OF
about equal value, when yields are
considered
Buckwheat is very sensitive 10 cold
and is killed by the first heavy frost
r
and so the sowlngs are deferred to
allow only time for the crop to mature
before frost occurs. Under the most
favorable conditions buckwheat
crop will mature i'm 10 weeks, but the
average time is about ~ weeks When
seeded the last week In June or first
week in July I'm New York and Penn
sylvania and about week earlier in
Michigan and Wisconsin II is most
likely TO escape injury from hot
weather, which, with drying winds
and hot nights, causes the flowers to
blast and fail to produce seed. The
seeding time for any locality IS deter
mined fairly accurately by allowing Il
n period OF twelve weeks for growth
before the first killing frost is ex-
pected
The farmer does not need expensive
machinery for harvesting the buck
wheat crop An o1d-fashioned cradle.
although 30 requires hard labor. does
the harvesting well The drop reap
or, however. rs one OF the most salts
factory machines for harvesting.
Many farmers use the ordinary bind
or. which practice is advisable where
10 can be followed Cutting is begun
as soon as the first lot Of blossoms
have disappeared, or often just before
the first frost is expected. Buck
wheat will mature its seed I'm a few
days. n after cutting the crop rs left
in loose bundles where they are drop
ped from the cradle or reaper. u
should then be set up i'm small shocks
and tied near the top with some
strands Of the straw bent upward
from the sides Of the shock. The cut
buckwheat IS usually left I'm the field
in the shock until threshing time,
when 80 Is drawn I'm and threshed eth
or with the fail or by machinery.
The farmer need generally have no
fear OF this crop being damaged by
either insect enemies or fungous dis
eases the buckwhcat plant IS but lit
tie affected by either Of these. 70 ls
an excellent crop for destroying weeds
and for ronovoting and putting the
soil In fine mellow condition
---f.--
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