RAISING OF BUCKWHEAT. 171 



known as hnotweeds. There are three cultivated species 

 of this genus, the seeds of which when ground, are used 

 as food for man. Of these only one, buckwheat, is raised 

 in this country, one in Italy, and the third in China. 



572. As it remains in the ground but a short time, it 

 may be cultivated in high northern latitudes, and it is 

 seldom found in this country except in the region north 

 of Tennessee and North Carolina. 



573. This plant succeeds best on light soils, but will 

 do well 011 almost any soil except a heavy clay. It is 

 frequently sown to plough in green as a manure in 

 preparing for some other crop. For this purpose it is 

 less valuable than clover, or a suitable mixture of plants, 

 but if ploughed in when in blossom, it is beneficial in 

 all soils which contain but little organic or vegetable 

 matter. 



574. Before sowing buckwheat the land is usually 

 ploughed once and then lightly harrowed. No other 

 preparation is necessary. The seed is sown in June, and 

 harrowed in. About three pecks per acre is enough, 

 though some farmers sow a bushel, broadcast. Good 

 crops of buckwheat have sometimes been obtained from 

 seed sown after a crop of barley has been taken from 

 the land, and some sow it in August with winter wheat. 



575. When ready for harvesting, it may be cut with 

 the scythe or the cradle ; the latter is better. It is then 

 raked or gathered into small bundles, which are fastened 

 by twisting the tops, and allowed to stand and dry on the 

 field. If mown with the scythe and left in the swath, it 

 will shell out. It dries slowly, and should be threshed 

 as soon as it is stored, since there is much danger of its 

 heating. The yield of this crop is from twenty to forty 

 bushels per acre. 



