Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1869 — Harvesting Buekwheat. [ARTICLE]

Harvesting Buekwheat.

Faumkuh sometimes lose a considerable portion of their buckwheat by allowing it to become too ripe before harvesting. Jiuckwheat never ripens all Us grain at the satue time, as it throws out a succession of blossoms. Sometimes the’early blossoms are partially blighted amJflo npt produco much grain, while the late blossoms are fruitful. Occasionally, the' Results are reversed—the early blosSpbls producing fruin, and tlie late ones ' being blighted. n 4 venr favorable season, Imtb the early aud llie late blosoms produce grain, but tt does not ripen at the same time, so tilth by* the time the late grain is ripen great past of the early will be lost by shedding. Care, should be taken to cut’the crop 'at ,"the time When the most grain can be secured. The straw is Very succulent, so that if tlie crop is cut when the early .portion of the gram has-lieeoine brown, and set up iu stoojmof bundles iu the.held with the butts o{jt)ie straw on the gropud, ana tlie tops exposed to the sun, the late grain will come to maturity in a few dad’s, liy judicious management, in this particular, very little of the early grain will lie lost by shedding, and the late will be plump aud well filled. When cut at the right time and properly cured, the straw of buckwheat makes gftod forage for sheep. When chopped with a straw-cutter and steamed, it forms a pulpy mass which is eaten with avidity by cattle, sheep or hogs. The addition of a little bran, corn meal, or middlfiigs will be a great improvement to tlie pulp.— Western Jtuval.