Beekeeping in the Buckwheat Region. q 
out later, the secretion of nectar is not equal throughout this period 
_ of blooming. The seeds of the common varieties are smooth and 
shining, with three acute angles. 
Buckwheat usually grows free from the interference of weeds, as 
it grows too rapidly for most weeds to make headway against it. 
There is no serious plant disease or insect enemy of a destructive 
nature. 
Buckwheat is less exacting as to soil requirements than other grain 
crops and grows on soils that fail to support the clovers and other 
valuable honey-plants. It is, however, exacting as to climatic con- 
ditions, requiring cool, moist weather, especially at blooming time. 
Since the setting of seed is dependent on proper condition of the 
flowers at the time of pollination, the flowering period is a critical 
one for the species. Buckwheat does well on thin, poor lands and on 
acid soils, provided the climatic conditions are favorable. As pointed 
out earlier, it is grown most abundantly in the United States on the 
Volusia and DeKalb soils of New York and Pennsylvania, which are 
not adapted to many other agricultural crops because of the lack of 
lime and general poverty of the soils. Dry soils are required for 
germination, and considerable heat is advantageous in the early stages 
of growth. During the period of blooming and seed formation high 
temperatures are injurious, especially when hot sunshine follows 
showers, causing blasting of the flowers. It is adapted especially to 
high altitudes and regions where the growing season is short, but any 
frost during the growing season will kill the plants. They can not 
stand a temperature of more than three or four degrees below freezing. 
The secretion of nectar from buckwheat is quickly influenced by 
various factors. It is commonly observed that buckwheat secretes 
best in the early part of the day; but in some localities, especially 
those where the temperature is lower, secretion may continue through- 
out the day. Secretion is more abundant following cool nights, espe- 
cially if the sun comes out bright the following day and if there is 
little or no wind. Secretion is reduced or stopped when the tempera- 
ture drops below 70° I*. While buckwheat is usually planted so that 
the blooming period comes in August, earlier plantings are sometimes 
made, especially for orchard cover crops. It is often observed that the 
earlier bloom is almost if not entirely devoid of nectar. The last 
bloom of the year, after about September 1 until frost, secretes little 
or not at all. The flowers are quickly blasted by unfavorable weather 
conditions, thus stopping nectar secretion. Leighty, in Farmers’ Bul- 
letin 1062, calls attention to the fact that “many buckwheat growers 
believe that the weight per bushel of the seed is heavier where the crop 
has been worked largely by bees.” 4 
*For further information regarding the cultivation and uses of this species, the reader 
is referred to Farmers’ Bulletin 1062, Buckwheat, by Clyde E. Leighty, issued in 1919, 
