594 THE SMALL GRAINS 



the most common, but more satisfactory results are ob- 

 tained by the use of a drill, where the nature of the ground 

 permits. Less seed is required when a drill is used. It 

 develops best when sown at a depth of J to 2 inches, but 

 will germinate fairly well when seeded even at a depth of 

 6 to 7 inches. 



662. Harvesting. The cutting of buckwheat should 

 take place before the first frost kills the plants. It is 

 often advisable to begin cutting as soon as the first lot of 

 blossoms have matured their seed. 



Most of the buckwheat crop in the United States is 

 cut with the old-fashioned cradle. This is often neces- 

 sary on account of the rough land used for the crop. A 

 self-rake reaper is suitable for harvesting the crop. When 

 these two methods are used, the bunches are left in the 

 swath a few days and are then set up unbound, in small 

 shocks, much as corn fodder. These shocks are not 

 capped, but a few stems are twisted about their tops, hold- 

 ing them together and preventing the scattering of the 

 shock. A self-binder may be used for cutting. The 

 bundles are then set up in long narrow shocks and not 

 capped. Cutting is usually done in the morning while 

 the dew is on, or in damp weather, to prevent shattering of 

 the grain. The pedicels which bear the seeds are slender, 

 and these and the straw are very brittle when dry. This 

 results in easy shattering and also allows of easy thrashing. 



663. Thrashing. The cut buckwheat is usually left 

 in the field in the shocks until thrashing time. It is then 

 either thrashed out with a flail or by machinery. If the 

 former is used, the straw should be dry and the weather 

 good, then the grain shells out easily. When a thrashing 

 machine is used, the straw need not be so dry. The 

 machine is modified by removal of the spiked concave, a 



