200 BUCKWHEAT 



Tartary Buckwheat. This is commonly called India wheat. 

 It is adapted to high and cool latitudes, especially mountainous dis- 

 tricts. It is cultivated some in Maine, eastern Canada, and the 

 mountain districts of New York. 



Notch-seeded buckwheat is not cultivated in North America, but 

 is said to be cultivated some in North India. 



Climate for Buckwheat. While buckwheat will grow a large 

 crop of straw on good soil, in any temperate climate, yet it will sel- 

 dom set seed well under hot or dry conditions. The flowers are said 

 to be blasted; that is, after blooming freely the flowers die but no 

 seed appears. Comparatively cool summer weather and sufficient 

 rain to keep in healthy growth, favor a good set of seed. Such 

 climatic conditions are most common in northeastern United States, 

 especially in the rather high and hilly portions. It will be noted 

 that buckwheat culture follows, in a general way, the hilly and 

 mountainous region extending from New York through Pennsyl- 

 vania and the Virginias. Being a very quick-growing crop it can be 

 sown in mid-summer, thus bringing the blossoming into the more 

 favorable fall weather. 



Buckwheat also has another advantage over other cereals in wide 

 adaptation to climate. It will continue to blossom for several weeks, 

 so that a period of favorable weather occurring at any time during 

 this period may result in a good set of seed. 



Soils for Buckwheat. Buckwheat has long been noted as one 

 of the crops that will do fairly well on poor soils, if the climate is 

 favorable. It will also do better than most crops on soils lacking in 

 lime and drainage. This is one reason for its extensive culture in 

 the hill lands of the eastern States. 



While buckwheat will do well on productive soil, it is there 

 brought into competition with other crops, as wheat or corn, and 

 would ordinarily not be as profitable. Competing crops are always 

 an important consideration in determining whether a crop will be 

 grown or not. 



Fertilizers. Buckwheat responds readily to applications of fer- 

 tilizer or manure. Usually manure is reserved on the farm for 

 some other crop, but a moderate use of fertilizer on buckwheat is 

 quite as common as for other crops. About 100 to 200 pounds per 

 acre of a 4-8-5 grain fertilizer is considered profitable, but on the 



