BUCKWHEAT 595 



smooth concave or a fitted plank being substituted. This 

 is done to prevent cracking the grain and breaking up the 

 straw more than is necessary. The grain is more easily 

 thrashed than is that of the true cereals. 



664. Rotations. Buckwheat is often sown on land 

 where early planted crops or meadows have failed, or 

 where it has been impossible for some reason to put in 

 another crop. It is often sown on land considered too 

 poor for other crops. It is also sometimes sown year after 

 year on the same land, when this is not suited to other 

 crops. For these reasons buckwheat usually has no defi- 

 nite place in rotations. This rotation, however, is some- 

 times followed : clover, buckwheat, potatoes, oats, or 

 wheat seeded to clover. The first crop of clover is re- 

 moved early and the land plowed at once and seeded to 

 buckwheat in preparation for potatoes. The use of buck- 

 wheat preceding the potato crop is very common. Buck- 

 wheat leaves the soil in a fine mellow condition that on 

 heavy soils is of great benefit to potatoes, one result being 

 smoother, better-appearing tubers. Buckwheat does not 

 seem to be affected by preceding crops, but it is often 

 claimed, though apparently without experimental proof, 

 that oats and corn are unfavorably affected by a preced- 

 ing buckwheat crop. 



665. Buckwheat as a soil renovator has great value. 

 On account of its rapid growth it is useful in clearing the 

 land of weeds. Experiments indicate that it can utilize 

 relatively insoluble mineral soil constituents to better ad- 

 vantage than can the true cereals, such as wheat and oats, 

 and it is well known that it will flourish on poor soil. As a 

 green-manure crop on poor land, therefore, it has value in 

 rendering plant-food available and furnishing humus to the 

 soil. A heavy growth plowed under will decay quickly 



