FOOD FROM CEREALS AND OTHER SEEDS 239 



in moist weather, which soon renders them useless for feed- 

 ing. In some localities, however, this method is eminently 

 practical. Swine not being fattened should finish the glean- 

 ing. 



In some of the western mountain valleys, it is claimed 

 that swine can be made to gather their own food all the 

 year by growing peas, alfalfa, bald barley and artichokes. 

 Some peas, stacked so that they are accessible to the swine 

 on alfalfa, during the early summer months, furnish the 

 needed grain food at that season. 



To horses, peas are not usually fed to any considerable 

 extent. But there is no reason why they should not be fed 

 in certain proportions to horses young and old, when suf- 

 ficiently plentiful. Peas and oats go well together, the pre- 

 ponderating factor being oats. For foals, and even for 

 horses, the results will be more satisfactory if the grain has 

 been ground. 



Buckwheat. Buckwheat may be grown in nearly all 

 the various states and provinces of Canada. It is not grown 

 to any considerable extent, however, in the southern, south- 

 western and western states, or in the western provinces of 

 Canada. More is grown in the New England states and those 

 adjacent to them elsewhere. Maine leads the states in the 

 yields obtained, the average for the last ten years being 30 

 bushels an acre, whereas for the United States it has been 

 less than 20 bushels in the same period. It is a strong point 

 in favor of buckwheat that it may be grown as a catch crop 

 in the early summer on land that might otherwise be idle. It 

 may also be grown successfully on land that has been neg- 

 lected or low in fertility. It matures in about 75 days from 

 the date of sowing. It is usually fed to live stock in the 

 ground form, save when fed to sheep, horses and poultry. Its 

 highest adaptation is found in feeding poultry. Owing to the 

 demand for it to make flour to be used in making cakes for 

 the table, its use as a food for live stock is much circum- 

 scribed. 



