The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-06-08
GROW BUCKWHEAT
Puts Soil in Fine Mellow Condition
and Destroys Weeds.

BuckWneaC is at present grown IN
this country almost wholly in the States
east of the Mississippi River and north
of the cotton belt. About seven-tenths
of the crop is grown in the two States,
New York and Pennsylvania, but it is
important in several other States, prin-
cipal among which are Michigan, West
> Virginia, Virginia, Wisconsin and Ohio.
the more northern States buckwheat
can be sown over practically the entire
area without reference to elevation, but
farther south it is confined to the up
lands and mountainous sections.
Buckwheat should be sown on land
prepared as for corn. 1t is an excellent
crop to sow where corn has been plant
ed but where a stand has not been
secured Best results are obtained
where the land is plowed early and is
well prepared, but fairly good results
can be obtained by sowing Immediately
after blowing and narrowing.
Buckwheat should generally be seed
ed at the rate OF or pecks per acre.
If the soil is fertile and drill is used
and the seed is of good vitality, as little
as pecks may be sufficient. As much as
pecks are sometimes sown. 1t is best
to use grain drill, but this is not es-
sential, as the seeds can be broadcasted
and narrowed in with satisfactory re-
suits. 1t should be sown from one
fifth of an inch to 2lnches deep, depend
ing on the condition of the soil.
There is probably no other crop that
will produce better on infertile, poorly
titled lands than will buckwheat. 1t is
well suited to hight well-drained soils,
such as sandy loans, and to the silt
loan soils. 1t needs but little lime,
growing we'll in acid soils without lime,
where alfalfa and red clover would not
succeed. When the soil is poor, it is
profitable to use fertilizer, but where
good wheat or corn crops can be pro-
duced without fertilizer, it is unn eces-
sary for the buckwheat crop. On the
poorest hill land small application of
nitrogen and phosphorus is advisable,
but generally nitrogen is not needed
The plant responds very readily to ap-
plications of phosphates, however.
Low-grade fertilizers containing phos.
phorus and a small amount of pot
assium can be used to advantage on the
crop where the land is poor.
Three varieties of buckwheat are
commonly grown in the Uuited 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 in ap-
pearance These two varieties are of
AAbout equal value, when Yields are con.
-Tsidered.
Buckwheat is very sensitive to colo
and IS killed by the first heavy frost. II
fills best in cool weather, however, anC
so the sowings are deferred to allow
only time for the crop to mature before
frost occurs. Under the most favorable
conditions buckwheat crop will mature
about II weeks. When seeded the last
week in June or the first week in July
in New York and Pennsylvania anc
about q week earlier in Michigan anc
Wisconsin it is most likely to escape in.
Jury from hot weather, which with dry,
ing winds and hot nights, causes the
flowers to blast and fail to produce
seed. The seeding time for any To-
cality is determined fairly accurately
by allowing it period of u weeks fol
growth before the first killing frost is
expected.
The farmer does not need expensive
machinery for harvesting the buck
wheat crop. An old-fashioned cradle
although it requires hard labor, does the
harvesting well. The drop reaper
however. is one of the most satisfactory
machines for harvesting. Many
farmers use the ordinary binder, which
practice is advisable where it can be
followed. Cutting is begun as soon a;
the first lot of blossoms have disap
peared, or often just before the first
frost is expected. Buckwheat will
mature its seed in a few days, if, after
cutting. the crop is left in loose bundles
where they are dropped from the cradle
or reaper. 1t should then be set up in
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 in the field in
the shocks until threshing time, when
it is drawn in and threshed either with
the fail or by machinery.
The farmer need generally have nc
fear of this crop being damaged by
either insect enemies or fungous
diseases, as the buckwheat plant is but
little affected by either Of these. 1t is
an excellent crop for destroying weeds
and for renovating and putting the soil
in fine mellow condition.