BUCKWHEAT 



585 



into a wing, causing the sides of the grains to be somewhat 

 concave in surface (see Fig. 1746). 



The plants of the different varieties are distinguish- 

 able by size and color characters. The plant of the 

 Japanese variety grows the largest, is later-maturing, and 

 the growing stem is green in color. The growing stem 

 of the Silver Hull variety is red, and more branches are 

 produced by this than by the other varieties. Its leaves 

 also are the smallest. The flowers of the Japanese variety 

 seem also to be less easily blasted by high temperature than 

 the others. These differing characters have been taken 

 advantage of in farm practice in some localities, where 

 the Japanese and Silver Hull varieties are mixed and sown 

 together. The idea in this is that the taller and hardier 

 Japanese plants will protect the others from the sun, 

 while the lower Silver Hull plants, with their many 

 branches, will utilize to good advantage the available 

 space beneath, thus resulting in higher yields. 



648. Comparison of varieties. The Japanese variety 

 is considered as giving generally the best yields, although 

 it seems probable that there are conditions to which the 

 other varieties are better adapted. In tests made in New 

 York in 1901 these varieties gave the following results : 



TABLE XVI. COMPARATIVE YIELDS OF THREE VARIETIES OF 

 BUCKWHEAT IN NEW YORK 



