23S 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



JAN. 31, IS 8 



AND gardener's journal. 



Bosto:j, Wednesday, Jan. 313JS. 



INDIAN WHEAT. 

 This is ihi^ name iipplied to a gr^iiii, whicli recenlly 

 lias been lironght inlo notice by ils extraordinary pro- 

 (iventss,iind ul'wbirli .-i.-; iiiquries .-ire conalanlly made 

 of us, we [impose to give « hat informalinn vvc possess. 

 The plant referred to i-i, w'illiont question, llie Tarta- 

 rian Biiek Wheal ; or as it is called by others, the Si- 

 berian Bucluvheat. It belongs to the tribe of the Poly- 

 ' goniim from its many tides; and its name Buck Wheat 

 is supposed to be a corruption of Beerh Wheal from the 

 resemblance of ils seeds to the Beech Mast. Tlieculli- 

 vation of this particular kind of Buck Wheat is not new 

 in ihis counlry nor in this state. Tiie retent excite- 

 ment in regard to it seems to have been accidental ; its 

 value perhaps being more particularly brought inlo view 

 by the failure of common Whiat through the gn.in 

 worm -ind by rust; and tlie loss of the Indian Corn by 

 the inclemency of the seasons. This parlicular kind has 

 been several years i ullivated in ["eiinsylvania ; and a 

 lieaulU'ul sample of it was brought to us from the norlh- 

 western parts of that state three years since ; but with- 

 out any name by which to desigiiale it, or any accouni 

 of its ruUivation or il"^ yield. It 'has been likewise for 

 several years cultivated successfully in Hampshire 

 County in this State. It was said to have been intro- 

 duced into Germany a century ago ; and within a few 

 years has been cullivated in Great Britain. It is sup- 

 posed to possess considerable advantages over the kind 

 that has been usually cultivated, not only because it is 

 considerably hfiaviei in the grain, but is generally con- 

 sidered more palatable. It is said to do well even in the 

 poorest soils ; is not affected by cold ; and being inoie 

 disposed to branch out and spread its stalks, requires 

 not so much seed for its cultivation as the common kind 

 of buckwheat. Some persons, who liave euliivated it 

 demur to the fact of its being more productive ; and 

 complain of its flour as being blackish and rather bitter. 

 These differences can only be lecoriciled by supposing 

 differences in the modes of cultivation ; in the nature 

 of the soils, upon which it grows ; in the kind of mari- 

 ure employed ; in the manner of ils being cured ; and in 

 the manufacture of the bread itself. 



With a view to give the best information we have 

 been able to obtain of its cultivatiim and history herH^ 

 we subjoin some extracts from letters received in an- 

 swer to our inquiries 



"Of its origin, says one of our correspondents, I know 

 nothing ; but report says some years since a traveller 

 fed his horse at a public llou.<e in a town a few miles 

 norlli of us (Hattlaml, Vt.) and that after he left, a few 

 grains were found in the trough in some respetta rcsem. 

 bling buckwheat ; and ihat these being sown produced 

 The grain now known by the name of Indian Wheat 

 It produced 30 or 40 bushels to the acre on oidinary land, 

 such as will not bear a good crop of any other graiii ; 

 and sometimes yields lb to 100 bushels to the acre." 



'•Our farmers differ much as to ihe quantity of seed 

 that should be sown. Some put on a bushel, some not 

 more than eight quarts. I should say from It) to 25 qts. 

 It may be sown any lime till July. It requires from 2 

 to 3 months to corue to maturity ; if sown too early it 

 will be in danger from late frosts. About the niitldlc of 

 June is the usual lime of sowing here." 



"The land should not be too rich. On common land 

 without manure it succeeds well. Poor sandy land that 



1, not wortli culiivatiiig in any other grain produces a 

 fair cr»p The ground should be prepared as for rye or 

 oats. If ihe land be poor it should be left as smooth as 

 possible that the grain may be cradh/d low ; as it gener- 

 ally branches out near the ground especially when sow- 

 ed thinly or on poor laud. The average weight is 4S to 

 50 lbs. per bushel. !t is used for various kinds of bread 

 stuff; also for feeding hogs, horses, cows, &c. When 

 floured as it should be it makes good biead if eaten when 

 new, whether warm or cold. It will mix well with rye 

 and Indian meal for coarse bread. It is thouglit by 

 some to be eqinil to corn for fattening hogs, bushel for 

 bushel, hut I think this is a mistake. 1 have known no 

 experiiiieiiis t" t^-st its value. It is fed to horse.i by some 

 persona, but probably oats by weight are preferable. On 

 the whide 1 think it a very Taluable kind of grain, es- 

 pecially in places where llie land is naturally poor or 

 has beiome exhausted by long continued cultivation." 

 VVb have another letter before us, whiidi slates ; " I 

 suppose the right name of this grain to be Indian Wheat. 

 It has been cultivated a number of years in Vermimt, 

 and in some parts of New York ; bjt where it originally 

 came from I cannot tell. I broke up last year about 2 1-8 

 acres of a piece of pasture land ; sowed one bushel and 

 two quarts, and obtained one hundred bushels, which 

 was the greatest yield I have heard of. It has been 

 raised on almost nil kinds of land. I sowed it last year 

 on the 10th of June. I think it should be gathered when 

 three fVjiirths of the grain are ripe. It will produce fioin 

 20 to 25 lbs. of flour per bushel. It is used as an article 

 of food considerably in these limes of scarcity, and is 

 much used for fattening swine." 



Much are the accounts we have received of the culti- 

 vation of this article of produce, which is comparatively 

 new among us. We have been informed on authority 

 on which we rely that it has this year yielded 75 bushe's 

 to the acre ; but the circumstances under which this 

 product has been obtained, have not come to our knowl- 

 edge. It would be wrong lo calculate upon any such 

 amount as usual or prtibable. That which we have 

 tested weighed 49 lbs. to the bushel. A litrmer with 

 whom we are acquainted, who h:is used il in his family, 

 has obtained 35 lbs. of flour to a busliel of grain. A 

 grain weighing this much, and yie ding in a poor soil, 

 without manure, even 25 or 30 bushels lo the acre must 

 be pronounced a valuable acquisition. It is advised by 

 some farmers to use it for horses ; but one writer says, 

 he has known il to produce a stupefying effect. Young 

 says a bushel goes I'arther than two bushels of oats. In 

 fattening swine it is said that eight bushels of buck- 

 wheat will go as far as twelve bushels of barley meal 

 We give these slalements entirely upon the authority of 

 others, having had very partial experience in the 

 use of il for feeding. Buckwheat cakes, which are al- 

 most a standir g dish in Pennsylvania and Maryland, 

 whin well made, and eaten warm, are much esteemed 

 by most people ; are deemed nutritious; and have llie 

 advantage of not turning acid upon the stomach. 



The plant is cullivated in many places extensively 

 for ils advantages in feeding Bees; its blossoms con- 

 taining a large quantity of honey and remaining a long 

 time open, different plants in the same field, and differ- 

 ent parts of the same plant opening in flower at different 

 times. One writer says " the haulm of Buckwheat is 

 more valuable than clover if cut while in fl jwer." Jt is 

 of litllc value as food liir animals after the seed has ri- 

 |ii ned. 



<hie person .says he has seen hogs after having eaten 

 heartily of it become so inebriated as to be unabh; to 

 walk without reeling. How far the use of it (or swine 

 would under such circumstances compromit those good 



men, who have signed the temperance pledge, is a nii 

 question in casuistry, which we shall have to theini 

 decide. Perhaps ihey will construe their obligationsi 

 this matter as applying to the furnishing the means 

 intoxication only lo human swine. 



On ils value as a green dressing and for the purpc 

 of ploughing under; and as a prelection of the you 

 wheat, WH shall have somelhing to add at a future a 

 more convenient season. 



SUMMARY OF THE WEEK. 



What are C^ngrcps doing .' VV hat are the Legislati 

 doin" ? Talking — Talking. Strange it is thai the] 

 man tongue should endure such perpetual inoiion ; f 

 that a road so much Iravellf d, and travelled too by 

 hides oflenlimi'S of such a rough and jagged cunslri 

 lion, words of all lenglhs, all syllables and all hinguai 

 should nol become gullied or lulled, or sloughed. 

 Miicadamized road ihat human skill ever formed we 

 like it INow there is a good deal of talking lo so 

 purpose, and ihero is a good deal to no purpose, but t . 

 of the suffeiing of iho.se, who are compelled to lisa 

 to it. We verily believe iliat if a faithful reporter coi 

 be found who would present a perfect /«<; siwilc of ini 

 of the public speeches that are thrown off at a sin 

 heat with all their nothingisms and repelitions; and tl 

 •' 1 did not mean to speak, Mr Speaker, and I will 

 tain the house but one minute .\lr Speaker, ' and so 

 and show up the orator as he shows liimself u|), 

 verily believe many of our public debaters would 

 themselves astonish, d, not iliat they so oflen move 

 house; but that with such sp.'eches they should 

 move thein at once right out of doors; which we ap; 

 bend they would do if ihey were not paid two dol 

 and eight dollars a day lor taking lessons in patie 

 and endurance. 



The IjRgisi.atdrk. — The Legislature is engaged 

 silv in looking into the condition of the Banks ; am 

 seeking to devise fome ren:edy for evils, which riisi 

 and distress every man in the community. There li.i 

 been other deaths since we preseriled i.ur last obitui^ 

 but we believe there have been no interments; then 

 tors being engaged in an anatomical exaiuinalion of 

 bodies The alarm seems almost as general as at 

 time of the great Plague in London, and some, wl 

 health, we believe, was "pretty well 1 ihank you," 1 

 asked leave lo die a natural death for fear of a pu 

 execution. We shall venture no farther on particu 

 until the anatomical repot is published. 



The Legishiiiire have deieruiined upon their own c 

 pensation i and our hired men for the pieseni at 1 

 agree lo the old price and will work for two dolli 

 day and find themselves. Now this is all fair and ab 

 board, and as most of the work is "in doors" and co 

 ala season wlien the plough cannot, run, wo liopi 

 parties will bo saiisfied. 



\ Wheal parly is getting up and promises to be I 

 in favor, who are disposed to try if Ma.ssahusetts cai 

 raise her own bread. Our grownup daughter in ftl 

 has set us a fine example. 



Congress. — Congiess are reposing on their arm 

 They have voted a million of dollars for the pio.secu 

 of the war in Florida, because the Secretary of War 

 spent his last copper. These Indians cost us a gi 

 deal of trouble and money. They are only fit lo I 

 with the buffaloes among the n.ountains upon roa 

 dou-s and chicUiui pies made of the Eagles' youn 

 Strange when we asked thein to do it, ihey would 

 at once cheei fully give up their lands and fji 

 and houses and cali'le and burying places without mal> 

 all this trouble, especi;illy as we are civilized, ani 

 course have a 'iglit to every thing wc can Lay our h, 

 upon, and they are uncivilized and have aright oiii 

 the tiiresls and prairies until we want them. 



The sub-treasury project is fast approaehing discui 

 in Congress; and to this will probably succeed 

 discussion of the annexation of Texas to the Uni 

 jhe difliculiies with .Mexico— and an adjustment of 

 affairs with Great Britain growing out of the non-si 

 ineiit of our northeaslern boundary line, and the ( 

 fection in Upper Canada We design to keep 

 Farmers, who are as much interested as any cit 

 men, informed very briefly of ihe state of public afl 

 but we shall leleronly to facts, and enter upon no j 

 discussiim. 



The Frontiers — The war in Canada has been t 

 fersed from Navy Island to the neighborhood of De 



