, CHAPTER 6 



BUCKWHEAT, RICE, FLAX, EMMER, KAFFIR CORN AND SUNFLOWER 



BUCKWHEAT 



Buckwheat is a minor crop in most parts of America. It can be 

 considered a staple crop only in New York and Pennsylvania. For 

 a number of years its acreage has remained about stationary. The 

 entire area devoted to it in the United States is about 800,000 acres. 

 New York and Pennsylvania produce about 77 per cent of the total 

 production. 



It is often spoken of as the "lazy man's crop." It lends itself well to 

 the farmer who lacks capital. It brings quick returns and finds a ready 

 market at fair prices. It is the only grain for which a farmer can buy 

 fertilizer on a ninety-day note and pay for it out of the crop. 



Soil and Climatic Adaptation. Buckwheat does best in a moist, 

 cool climate and at high altitudes. High temperatures during the period 

 of seed formation, accompanied by hot sunshine followed by showers, is 

 generally disastrous to the crop. Buckwheat will mature a crop of grain 

 in eight to ten weeks under favorable conditions. 



Buckwheat is adapted to a wide range of soils, but does best on well- 

 drained soils that are rather light in texture. It succeeds on poor soils and is 

 most extensively grown in those regions where the soils are of rather low 

 fertility. 



Varieties. The varieties common to the United States are Japanese, 

 Silver Hull and Common Grey. The Silver Hull is slightly smaller 

 than the Common Grey. The seed is also smaller, plumper and lighter 

 in color than the Japanese. If there is no objection to mixing varieties 

 it is thought larger yields can be secured by mixing the large and small 

 growing varieties, which affords a better distribution of the seed heads in 

 the field. 



Preparation of Soil and Seeding. Early plowing of the land in order 

 to permit harrowing at intervals of two weeks and a thorough settling of 

 the soil before seeding time, is advised. If early plowing is not possible, 

 greater attention should be given to a thorough fitting of the seed-bed 

 immediately following plowing. 



The amount of seed per acre varies from three to five pecks, depending 

 on manner of seeding, character of seed and condition of seed-bed. It may 

 be seeded either with the grain drill or broadcasted and harrowed in. When 

 drilled a smaller amount of seed will prove satisfactory, but the distribution 

 of plants secured by broadcasting is preferable to that secured by drilling, 



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