326 



Indian Wheat or Buckwheat — Turneps, SfC. Vol. III. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Indian "tVlieat or Biickwbeat. 



My crop of buckwheat amounted to almost 

 a failure last j'ear; and from some cause or 

 other it has been falling off for some consider- 

 able time back. This has made me very 

 anxious to get some of the new or Indian 

 buckwheat, of which I read a favorable notice 

 in the Cabinet last year. Please inform me, 

 as early as may prove convenient, where it 

 may be obtained, and at what price ; and if 

 you would make the information public 

 through the Cabinet, it would doubtless oblige 

 many who are in my situation. P, W. M. 



Brandywiiie Manor, April 29, 1839. 



JVo((!. — We do not know where the article inquired 

 for can be obtained — not probably in this region. But 

 as there is time sufficient to plant, we will, if it is the 

 wish of our correspondent, endeavor to procure a sup- 

 ply from the North. Of this article we have no per- 

 sonal experience, and from all the information we 

 have been enabled to gain concerning it, we would 

 not urge its culture on our friends- It is true, that the 

 yield is much greater than of the common scrt. Polygo- 

 num, but the quality is very inferior, and of course it 

 is much less nutritious. It has been cultivated in 

 some of the northern counties of this State. 



The buckwheat failed as a crop generally last year. 

 But this ought not to discourage its cultivation. Every 

 farmer should put in an acre or two. It does best in 

 light soil— may be sown in this latitude from the first 

 of May to about the 10th of July. From half a bushel 

 to three pecks of seed are sufficient. Buckwheat straw 

 is strongly recommended by some gentlemen as afford- 

 ing the very best of hay for milch cows, and therefore 

 worthy of special care in its preservation. 



Put in tlic Tnrneps. 



As our farmers will soon commence put- 

 ting in their turneps, we beg leave to call 

 their attention to the method of raising them 

 successfully, as adopted by Mr. Samuel VV. 

 Smith. His statement, which is very min- 

 ute and interesting, may be found on the 17th 

 page of the present volume of the Farmers' 

 Cabinet. The stock farmer should not ne- 

 glect the planting of an acre or so for his 

 cattle. 



PUMPKINS, &C. 



The cultivation of the pumpkin will not be 

 overlooked by the careful farmer — it is an in- 

 dispensable article in the family, very nutri- 

 liou.s, and when raised in quantities, which 

 may be ensily done, (and it does not greatly 

 exhaust the soil,) is a pleasant and agreeable 

 change for cattle, especially milch cows. — 

 They are highly recommended for fatting cat- 

 tle, are easily raised and gathered without 

 much trouble, less perhaps than that attend- 

 ing any other crop. Pains should be taken 

 to grow the best kinds. Pumpkins, as well 

 as sugar beets, are frequently raised between 

 alternate rows of corn. 



The CITRON PUMPKIN, or Valparaiso squash 

 as it was formerly call«l, in point of excel- 

 lence, stands at the head of the whole tribe, 

 and we are happy to learn that its cultivation 



is extending. For a particular account of 

 this prince of the pumpkin family, see Farm- 

 ers' Cabinet, Vol. II., page 202. In addition 

 to its many good properties, it may be easily 

 preserved throughout the year. We have 

 seen them, 18 months after being gathered, 

 as fair and sound as the day they were taken 

 from the vine, and they retain their richness 

 and flavor unimpaired. 



PARSNEPS AND BEETS 



Do best in a rich, loamy soil, and may be 

 planted any time during the present month. 

 Dont be miserly of your manure, apply it 

 with a liberal hand, and your prospects of a 

 good crop will be greatly enhanced. The 

 dairy farmer who has had a supply of this 

 grateful and nourishing food for his cattle, 

 during the inclement months of winter and 

 spring, is alone capable of estimating the vast 

 importance of the culture. 



The last Call. — If any farmer has ne- 

 glected to put in an acre or two of sugar beet 

 and mangel wurtzel, for the keep of his 

 stock on a delicious green food during the 

 short days and long nights of next winter, let 

 him go to work forthwith and put in a supply 

 of ruta baga, and he may partially retrieve 

 his error. In such cases, though we by all 

 means prefer and recommend earlier plant- 

 ing, we would urge the culture of an acre of 

 sugar beet. We had a conversation to-day, 

 (April 30) with an esteemed and intelligent 

 farmer from old Buck.s, on agricultural sub- 

 jects, and we inquired what he thought of 

 the root culture; he replied that he raised 

 roots in quantities for his cattle for three years 

 past, and the last year he added one acre of 

 sugar beets. We asked the result. His re- 

 ply was, my cattle keep in excellent order. 

 The produce of my dairy is considerably in- 

 creased, and the quality of the butter is im- 

 proved. "Well," we continued, "have you put 

 in your beets 1" " Yes indeed, if 1 should ne- 

 oflect this part of my duty, I should never 

 dare to look one of my cows in the face." 



Caltivation of ^Vatcr-]nelons. 



This delicious melon may be cultivated for 

 an early market in the following manner: 



Select a hiph, and dry soil for the purpose. 

 Plon<i;h it up well, and barrow it. Check off 

 the spot thus treated at distances of ten feet 

 each way. Dig out each check with a hue or 

 spade, and into the same place five or six 

 quarts of cotton seed ; or if this cannot be pro 

 cured, fill the same with stable manure, partly 

 decomposed. Haul over this the earth before 

 dug from the hole, and mix it well with the 

 manure. If you have used cotton .=eed, in the 

 spring, it will have sprouted a week or two 



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