BUCKWHEAT. 317 



The straw is of little feeding value. Because of its quick 

 and heavy growth, often on relatively poor land, it is one of 

 the best non-leguminous plants for green-manuring, and, in 

 addition, a good smothering crop. 



Climate. — Buckwheat is a summer annual. x\s a green 

 manure it will give good growth during the summer in most 

 (.'ountries. During hot, dry spells, it fails to set seed but, 

 being to a certain extent indeterminate in growth, this feature 

 is often overcome. It is better, however, to plant accord- 

 ingly, i.e., so that the flowering period does not synchronise 

 with the hottest months of the year. In the greater part of 

 the Union planting about the middle to the end of January is 

 best for seed production ; flowering then takes place in 

 February, and continues for several weeks. The seed com- 

 mences to mature 56 to 75 days after sowing, and thus buck- 

 wheat is one of the quickest in maturity of the grain crops. 

 On account of this feature it is one of the most suitable of 

 catch crops, and should be chiefly grown for this purpose in 

 South Africa. 



Soils. — It will do well on most soils, but does better than 

 the cereal crops on thin and sour soils. Except as a catch 

 crop, it should not be grown on good soils, as other crops 

 will be found more prohtable. On rich soil it lodges very 

 readily, but does well on newly " braaked " soil, i.e., virgin 

 soil. 



Cultural Methods. — Fair crops will be grown with less 

 soil preparation than for the cereals, but it naturally responds 

 well to good soil cultivation. 



The seed may be drilled or broadcasted at the rate of 

 forty to fifty pounds per acre. 



It should be harvested when the majority of the seed has 

 matured, and as it shatters readily, this operation in 

 extremely hot weather should be avoided. If cut in the early 

 morning, when still damp with dew, excessive shattering can 

 often be minimised. As the straw is still green when the crop 

 is harvested, it must be loosely cocked and, on account of 

 heating, it is often better threshed from the field. If stacked 

 prior to threshing great care is necessary to prevent over- 

 heating. It can be threshed with an ordinary wheat thresher, 

 having the concave adjusted so as not to crack the grain. 



It is a crop apparently little affected by diseases or insect 

 pests. 



