THE FARMER AT HOME. 57 



numerous instances of gratitude daily observable in different animals, 

 particularly the dog. Of those and other sentiments, such as pride, 

 and even a sense of glory, the elephant exhibits proofs equally sur- 

 prising and indubitable. 



BUCKWHEAT. This plant is grown in almost every part of the 

 world. In China, Japan, and Russia it forms a very large portion of 

 the food of the inhabitants. It is likewise eaten in Switzerland, and 

 the southern parts of France, and in Flanders it forms an important 

 branch of industry. It has been known in Europe at least from the 

 time of the crusades. Gerard speaks of it as cultivated in England 

 about the year 1597. It was brought into Europe from the northern 

 part of Asia. The common buckwheat bears white flowers, tinged 

 with red. Its stem is full of knots, and rises to the height of two feet 

 or more. It is said that twenty branches or stems will sometimes 

 rise from a single seed. The flowers are in bunches, at the ends of 

 the branches, and are succeeded by black, angular seeds. 



Buckwheat thrives well in almost any kind of soil, even those of 

 the poorest description. In most arable districts, it is sown on the 

 inferior sorts of land, as, when cultivated on the richer kinds of soil, 

 it is found to run too much to straw. Of course, the lighter soils are 

 adapted to it. On this account it is extensively cultivated. Besides, 

 the labor in its culture is trifling. And what is not less material, the 

 period in completing its growth is very short. If sown in mid-summer, 

 it usually has full time for attaining maturity. It is most susceptible 

 to cold, and the slightest hoar-frost will destroy it. The product of 

 buckwheat in the United States, for 1847, has been estimated at twelve 

 millions of bushels, or a little less, and more than half of the amount 

 was raised in the States of New York and Pennsylvania. It is said 

 that in Ohio the kernels have grown far larger than elsewhere 

 known, and that the product upon the acre has been proportion ably 

 larger. 



BUD. The germ or first fruit of a plant, which is the organized 

 rudiment of a branch or flower. Buds proceed from the extremities 

 of the young shoots, and also along the branches, sometimes single, 

 sometimes two and two, either opposite or alternate, and sometimes 

 collected in greater numbers. In general, buds are of three kinds, 

 that containing the flower, that containing the leaves, and that con- 

 taining both flower and leaves. The bud is covered with a kind of 

 scales, which are intended to defend the enclosed rudiments from cold 

 and other external injuries. These scales are closely applied to each 

 other ; those on the outside are the longest and the thickest, and those 

 in the interior are smaller and more delicate. In cold countries, the 

 external scales are often covered with hair, or a resinous varnish, or 

 some other contrivance, which enables them to prevent the access of 

 frost to the young and tender centre vhich they protect ; but in warm 

 countries, where such a provision is n )t required, they are green and 



