July — Buckivheat. 225 



the load ! And what tons upon tons of it does the 

 world need ! There are more or less acceptable sub- 

 stitutes, but always far inferior to the wheat that gives 

 white bread. One of these, buckwheat, a cultivated 

 polygonum, is now in much favor with the peasants, 

 and ought to be with artists also, on account of its 

 wonderfully rich color. It is called sarrasin in France, 

 because the Moors took it into Spain, whence it came 

 northward. It grows easily on soil too poor for wheat, 

 and you may now see many little fields of it up amongst 

 the rocks in the poorer and wilder districts. Early in 

 September it is in the full richness of its color, the 

 stalks being of a beautiful red, that is easily heightened 

 when there are warm tones in the general light, which 

 often happens at that season of the year. 



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