BUCKWHEAT, RICE, FLAX, ETC. 



227 



Production and Harvesting. — The preparation of the land, the planting 

 and the cultivation of Kaffir corn are similar to those required for corn under 

 the same conditions. The seed should be drilled in rows sufficiently far 

 apart to facilitate cultivation with two-horse cultivators, usually 3^ feet 

 apart. The seed is drilled at such a rate that the plants in the row will 

 stand from 4 to 6 inches apart. For small growing varieties plants may be 

 closer than in case of the larger varieties. Planting should not take place 

 until the soil is quite warm. It is usually best to plant about ten days 

 later than the best time for planting field corn. It is advisable to have a 

 well-prepared seed-bed free from weeds. The plants as they first appear 

 are small and make slow 

 growth. 



The crop may be har- 

 vested by cutting the whole 

 plant and placing in small 

 shocks, or the seed heads may 

 be removed and stored in nar- 

 row, well-ventilated cribs. 

 After removing the seed heads 

 the stalks may be cut and 

 shocked or they may be pas- 

 tured as they stand in the 

 field. In some localities the 

 whole plant is cut and put in 

 the silo in the same manner as 

 making ensilage of field corn. 

 The yield of grain is fully as 

 large as that of field corn grain 

 under similar conditions, and 

 the drought-resistance of the 

 crop makes it more certain than corn. Fifty bushels per acre is con- 

 sidered a good yield. The seed is separated from the head by means of a 

 threshing machine. The weight of threshed grain per bushel is 56 pounds. 



Emmer. 1 

 A good substitute for oats and barley. 



EMMER 



Emmer, also known as spelt, is closely related to wheat, but is distin- 

 guished from it by the grain, which remains enclosed in the glumes when 

 threshed. There are both spring and winter varieties. The spring varie- 

 ties are most extensively grown in the northern portion of the Great Plains 

 region. The crop is characterized by its ability to make a satisfactory 

 growth on almost any kind of soil All of the varieties are drought resistant, 

 and the winter varieties are fairly hardy. It is not attacked by rusts and 

 smuts to the same extent as wheat and oats. 



^From Farmers' Bulletin 466, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



