BUCKWHEAT. 259 



The straw is solid, and the internal part, being filled with pith, 

 is highly esteemed for Dunstable work, for thatching and litter, 

 and it is also used to stuff horse collars. 



In Ireland there are 21,000 acres under culture with rye, pro- 

 ducing 105,000 quarters. 



In North America rye is principally restricted to the Middle 

 and Eastern States, but its culture is giving place to more profitable 

 crops. 



In JBohemia, as in most parts of Germany, rye forms the 

 principal crop, the product being about 3,250,000 quarters 

 annually. 



The three leading varieties cultivated in the United States are 

 the spring, winter, and southern ; the latter differing from the 

 others only from dissimilarity of climate. The yield varies from 

 10 to 30 o'r more bushels per acre, weighing from 48 to 56 pounds 

 to the bushel. The production of rye has decreased 4,457,000 

 bushels in the aggregate, but in New York it is greater by the last 

 decennial census than in 1840, by about 40 per cent. Pennsylvania, 

 which is the largest producer, has fallen off from 6,613,373 to 

 4,805,160 bushels. Perhaps the general diminution in the 

 quantity of this grain now produced may be accounted for, by 

 supposing a corresponding decline in the demand for distilling 

 purposes, to which a larger part of the crop is applied in New York. 

 This grain has never entered largely into its foreign comic erce, 

 as the home consumption for a long period nearly kept pace with 

 the supply. The amount exported from the United States in 1801, 

 was 392,276 bushels ; in 1812, 82,705 bushels; in 1813, 140,136 

 bushels. In 1820-1 there were exported 23,523 barrels of rye 

 flour ; in 1830-1, 19,100 barrels ; in 1840-1 44,031 ; in 1845-6, 

 38,530 barrels; in 1846-7, 48,892 barrels; in 1850-1, 44,152 

 barrels. During the year ending June 1, 1850, there were con- 

 sumed of rye about 2,144,000 bushels in the manufacture of 

 malt and spirituous liquors. 



According to the American census returns of 1810, the product of 

 the country was 18,645,567 bushels ; in 1850, 14,188,637 bushels. 

 We imported 246,843 quarters of rye and rye meal, in 1849, equiva- 

 lent to 49,368 tons ; but in 1850 the imports were only 94,078 quar- 

 ters, and in 1851 they were but 26,323 quarters. About 20,000 acres 

 are under cultivation with rye in Ireland, the produce of which is 

 100,000 quarters. 



BUCKWHEAT. 



BUCKWHEAT belongs to the temperate and arctic climates, and 

 is cultivated in Northern Europe, Asia, and America for the fari- 

 naceous albumen of its seeds, which, when properly cooked, affords 

 a delicious article of food to a large portion of the human race. It 

 also serves as excellent fodder to milch cows, and the straw, when 



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