1803. On the Culture and Ufe of BuchWheat, 409 



TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE FARMEu's MAGAZINE. 

 On the Culture and Ufe of Burh-Wheat. 



Sir, 



Convinced of the high utility of nn agricultural Work, fup- 

 portccl by fo great a number of pra6lical fanners as yours has 

 hitherto been, and fully fenfible that it can only continue a 

 vehicle for experimental knowledge by the correi'pondence of 

 fucb, 1 beg leave to offer my mite to the undertaking, in the fol- 

 lowing thoughts on the culture and ufe of Buck-wheat ; trulting 

 you will fupprefs fuch parts of the following letter as you may 

 find trivial, or reje<5l the whole, Ihould you deem it unworthy of 

 infertion. 



This plant, polygonum fagopyrum of Linnseus, is known in 

 every quarter of the globe. In China and Japan, it forms a very 

 confiderable portion of the food of the inhabitants*, it is Jikewife 

 generally eaten in Switzerland, and the fouthern parts of France; 

 and in Flanders, it is one of the mbft confiderable branches of 

 hufbandry. Gerardi fpeaks of it as cultivated in England about 

 the year 1597, particularly in the counties of Lancaihire and 

 Chelhire. It appears, however, to have marie very fmall progrefs 

 in this kingdom, and has perhaps received lefs attention than it 

 deferved. 



Buck- wheat was introduced into this diflri£l:, the Eaft 

 Riding of Yorkfliire, a few years fince, by Sir Henry Vavafour, 

 Baronet, whofe fpirited attention to agriculture, and thorough 

 knowledge of the Flemifh hufbandry, has rendered the mofl 

 effential fervice. It is particularly adapted to light, fandy foils, 

 and will afford a plentiful produce in land that is by no means 

 in good condition. I do not know any crop equally ufeful, in 

 fuch land, to follow the ruta baga, or other turnip which has 

 been eaten off" late in the fpring, or where it is defired to fow 

 down a field with grafs feeds, that has not been thoroughly 

 cleanfed from weeds the preceding fallow; as the time of fowiug 

 it (wh'ch in our climate ought not to be earlier than the firlt 

 week in June) gives every opportunity for getting the land into 

 fine order. Buck-wheat is faid to d*-ftroy weeds; but this is a 

 circumftance I can by no means affert ; as, in my pradtice, I 

 have noticed the contrary : and it appears to me a fingular 

 propofition, though one which fome have endeavoured to prove, 

 that buck-wheat, from the clofenefs of its growth at the top, 

 fhould fmother and deftroy weeds, whillt clover and the other 

 grafs feeds receive confiderable benefit by the fliade it affords 

 Uiem from the piercing heat of the fun : Therefore, although 



\0U lY. NO. J 6. O o I 



