196 THE BUCKWHEAT CROP. 



cent., which would show that it has a considerable feeding 

 value. In its green state, cut as fodder, it is stated by 

 Einhof and Crome to consist of 



Water, 82'5 



Starch, 47 



Cellulose, lO'O 



Nitrogen compounds, *2 



Extractive matter (?), 2'6 



100-0 



The straw has been analyzed by Sprengel, and is thus 

 given : 1 



Potash, 10-36 



Lime, 21-98 



Magnesia, 40'34 



Alumina (?), -81 



Silica, 4-37 



Oxide of Iron, -47 



Oxide of Manganese, I'OO 



Sulphuric acid, 677 



Phosphoric acid, 9'00 



Chloride of Sodium, 4'90 



100-00 



Although the proportion of nitrogen compounds in the 

 grain is smaller than in the cereals generally, thus ren- 

 dering buckwheat inferior to them as a bread-corn, still 

 the much larger produce of the crop to the acre on the 

 poorer description of soils, makes it very valuable even for 

 food purposes to the inhabitants of such countries, as the 

 aggregate amount of flesh-forming principles obtained per 

 acre by a crop of this grain would be far in excess of that 

 produced by either of the cereal crops. To horses, and to 

 cattle generally, it may be given with advantage, either 

 alone or mixed with other food. Poultry of all kinds eat 

 it greedily, and no food makes them so productive as this 

 grain does ; while a small patch planted in the neighbour- 

 hood of the homestead will, during the time of flowering, 

 furnish a rich treat to the bees and keep them from stray- 

 ing in search of food. 



1 Annales Agricoles de Roville, torn. viii. p. 212. 



