Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 217 



Fagopyrum cymosum, Meissner. 



The perennial Buck-wheat or rather Beech-wheat of the Indian 

 and Chinese highlands, ascending naturally to 11,000 feet [Sir 

 Joseph Hooker] . Can be used with other species for spinage and 

 grain ; also a blue dye may be obtained from its leaves. 



Fagopyrum esculentum, Mcench.* 



Northern and Central Asia, extending eastward to Manchuria, 

 growing to an elevation of 12,000 feet in the Himalayas. The 

 ordinary buck-wheat, called Buch-Waizen in Germany, from the 

 resemblance (in miniature) of the seeds to Beech-nuts ; hence also 

 the generic name. This annual herb succeeds on the poorest land ; 

 clayey soil yields more foliage, but less grain. One of the most 

 important of all sand-plants in an agrarian point of view. By the 

 vigor of its growth it conquers the worst of weeds, even Triticum 

 repens (Linne), called Couch-grass in Britain, and in South-Africa 

 Troith-grass [G. H. Merrifield]. It is one of the best forerunners 

 for cereal crops, if supported by some manuring. The crushed 

 amylaceous seeds can be converted into a palatable and wholesome 

 food by boiling or baking ; porridge, groats, and particularly cakes 

 thus obtained may be consumed even by diabetic patients without 

 much aggravation of their malady. The seeds contain about 77 per 

 cent, of amylaceous and saccharine substance [Dr. A. E. Wright] ; 

 other analyses gave starch about 50 per cent., gluten about 10 per 

 cent. Starch has also recently been prepared from the seeds as an 

 article of trade. Fagopyrum can be raised with advantage as an 

 agrarian plant for the first crop on sandy but not too dry heath-land, 

 newly broken up, for green manure. It gives a good green fodder, 

 serves as admixture to hay, and is also important as a honey-plant. 

 Honey thus quickly obtained could also be soon converted into 

 vinegar, particularly to preserve therein on poultry -farms ducks and 

 geese. The seeds supply an excellent poultry-feed. The period 

 required for the cyclus of its vegetation is extremely short ; thus it 

 can even be reared on alpine elevations or as an intermediate crop. In 

 Norway it grows to lat. 67 56' [Schuebeler]. The produce of this 

 grain in the United States during 1879 was 13,140,000 bushels, 

 valued at 1,636,000 ; in 1885 it was 12,626,000 bushels. Much 

 used also in distilleries. A large-grained variety is cultivated in 

 Japan. 



Fagopyrum Tataricum, Gaertner. (Fagotriticum Sibiricum, Linne.) 



Middle and Northern Asia, up to 14,000 feet [Dr. G. Watt]. 

 Yields for the higher mountain-regions a still safer crop than the 

 foregoing ; otherwise the remarks offered in reference to F. escu- 

 lentum apply also to F. Tataricum ; but the seeds of the latter are 

 more thick-shelled, less amylaceous and less palatable : all sorts very 

 fattening to fowl. All may be sown for temporary shelter of young 

 tree-seedlings ["Mildura Cultivator"]. Seeds might be scattered 

 over our sandy deserts for naturalising this and congeneric plants. 



