THE CULTURE OF BUCKWHEAT AND PEAS. 301 



ground with corn in equal measures it makes the best feed 

 for horses, to be used with cut straw and hay; and if mixed 

 with corn for fattening hogL, it makes a more healthful food 

 than corn alone, adding to the amount of albuminoids of the 

 corn and reducing proportionately its excess of carbonaceous 

 matter. Its culture is exceedingly easy, being the least ex- 

 acting grain in this respect grown upon farms; and it is not 

 so much injured by heaving out in the winter as wheat is. 

 Notwithstanding its average poor yield, it pays well for 

 good culture. We have grown 45 bushels per acre upon 

 a well cultivated corn stubble, which was prepared without 

 plowing by thorough working with the Acme harrow. The 

 straw is the most valuable of all kinds for feeding, and rye 

 bran is more nutritious than that of wheat, and superior to 

 it for feeding to dairy cows. 



BUCKWHEAT deserves more notice and consideration than 

 it receives at the hands of farmers generally. It is a val- 

 uable crop when it receives the treatment it deserves. The 

 great need of our agriculture is more feeding crops and this 

 grain is valuable for this use. When ground with corn 

 and rye it is excellent food for horses, cattle, and swine* 

 and the mixed grains unground, are exceedingly well adapt- 

 ed for sheep. This grain requires cool weather to mature 

 the seed and is therefore sown late in the summer; in July 

 in the north, and August in the south. It never fails to 

 yield a paying crop, producing from 20 to 75 bushels per 

 acre according to the richness of the soil and the favorable 

 season. The latter yield was once reached by the author,, 

 upon a piece of newly cleared and broken woodland and in 

 a year when the frosts held off until November. The crop 

 comes in at such a time as to make it very convenient. 

 Any piece of rough ground, well broken up, suits it; but 

 good culture before sowing the seed greatly enhances the 

 product. A peck of seed per acre is sufficient. The seed 

 should be well covered and the Acme harrow is beyond a 

 doubt the best implement for covering it. * 



PEAS are one of the leguminous family of plants to which 

 clover belongs, and like this plant, have a favorable effect 



