BUG 



BUD 



' b 



should therefore be cut early in Oc- 

 tober, or at the end of September. 

 As the seeds scatter, some recom- 

 mend pulling by the roots ; but a cra- 

 dle-scythe answers every purpose. In 

 consequence of the succulence of the 

 stems, it requires to be sweated in 

 cock Avhen dried for fodder, and 

 should be threshed as early as con- 

 venient. The stalk, well cured, is a 

 good rough fodder, and forms a valu- 

 able addition to the cattle-yard. ]\I. 

 Antoine has shown, on the most au- 

 thentic data, that it is very superior 

 to common straw, and of half the 

 value of prime hay. 



As a fallow crop, it is very valua- 

 ble, from the size (2 feet) it attains 

 on poor sands, and the ease with 

 which it ferments and yields food to 

 the next crop. The flowers are 

 sought by bees, but form a dark, rath- 

 er harsh honey. It is also cut in 

 flower for soiling milch cows, and is 

 very good mixed with clover, but too 

 much is apt to produce drowsiness. 

 Poultry and all cattle eat the seeds or 

 meal. It is rather superior to oats, 

 as the following composition shows ; 



Woody fibre 25 



Starch 50 



Albumen, &;c 14:-5 



Oil 04 



Salts 15 



Water 160 



Too" 



Its ashes sometimes contain an 

 exoess of potash salts, sometimes of 

 lime, thaee being isomorphous. 



The ucods are ground into meal 

 for making buckwheat cakes, which 

 are highly relished throughout the 

 country. In Germany malt is made 

 with them, and beer and spirits. 

 Birds, especially pheasants, are very 

 fond of them. The Maine farmer 

 recommends the cultivation of buck- 

 wheat to destroy couch grass ; the 

 first crop is to be ploughed in when 

 flowering, and another seeded upon 

 it at once ; from the last, grain may 

 be collected. 



Some species of polygonum yield 

 good yellow dyes, as the Siberian ; 

 others, as the bistorta, are acrid and 

 poisonous. 



BUD. The growing point of a 

 branch, consisting of young unex- 

 panded leaflets or flower petals. 

 Winter buds contain a small store of 

 starch and albumen at their base to 

 sustain the leaflets in spring. Flower 

 buds are usuallj" developed on spurs or 

 in the axils of leaves, while leaf buds 

 are seen on the vigorous shoots. All 

 buds are in contact with the inner 

 bark of trees, and with the young 

 wood, from which latter they derive 

 sap for development. Adventitious 

 or latent buds are such as break out 

 from the bark of trees without hav- 

 ing any external sign or eye ; they 

 are, however, marked on willows by 

 roughnesses on the bark, in other 

 trees by knaurs. In all that respects 

 structure and function, the eyes of 

 potatoes, dahlias, the bulbs of tulips, 

 onions, and all seeds are perfect buds, 

 these different parts being modifica- 

 tions of the same general plan. 



The development of lower buds in 

 trees or branches is readily effected 

 by cutting away the upper, which, as 

 they are more excitable, usually take 

 the first start, and, using all the sap, 

 hinder the growth of the lower eyes. 



BUDDING. The insertion or in- 

 oculation of the buds of one tree into 

 the branches or stock of another. 

 The buds are to be taken from the 

 year's shoot about midway, and from 

 a healthy, full-bearing 'tree. The 



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