BUCKWHEAT CULTURE 267 



in New York and Pennsylvania, buckwheat can not be con- 

 sidered a staple crop, but is generally sown as a filler or catch 

 crop on land where corn or some other early-planted crop 

 has failed. It yields well on poor land, hence it is grown 

 quite generally on rocky hillsides and other dry locations. 

 The best yield is produced on sandy loam soils. The chief 

 value of buckwheat lies in its quick maturity, enabling it to 

 ripen its seed when sown as late as July 1, thus giving an 

 opportunity to get some return from fields where previous 

 crops have been destroyed by floods or from other causes. 

 As it makes a quick, rank growth, it is also an excellent crop 

 for clearing land of weeds and to plow under for green 

 manure. 



333. Method of Cultivation. Buckwheat should be sown 

 on well prepared land during the latter part of May or in 

 June. Seeding as late as July 1 is possible where the grow- 

 ing season is not too short. The usual rate of seeding is 

 about 3 or 4 pecks to the acre. The seed may be sown broad- 

 cast or with the grain drill. If sown broadcast, it should be 

 well covered with the harrow. Cutting is usually delayed 

 till the approach of cold weather, as the plants continue to 

 bloom and produce seed until killed by frost. The usual 

 method of cutting is with the self-rake reaper, the grain 

 being cured in the bunches and not tied into bundles. These 

 bunches are often set up into shocks to lessen the injury from 

 weathering. Cutting with the grain binder is sometimes 

 practiced; the bundles should be made small and should be 

 set up in long shocks to facilitate curing. The grain is 

 usually hauled direct from the field to the thrashing machine 

 and thrashed, for it is likely to mold if stacked. 



334. Uses. Buckwheat is most largely used for the 

 manufacture of pancake flour. In some sections, however, 

 it is quite extensively used for feeding to stock. For hogs, 



