BUCKWHEAT (buck, AS. boc, becc, beech + wheat, (lee. Wcizen, so named in allusion to its triangular seeds, which look like beechnuts). A genus of plants of the natural order Polygo nacex, or. according to many botanists, a subge nus of Polygonum, distinguished by the central embryo, and by racemes of flowers grouped in panicles. Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum es eulentum or Polygonum fagopyrum) is a. native of the basin of the Volga, the shores of the Cas pian Sea, and many parts of Central Asia. Its introduction into Europe, the details of which are not definitely known, took place during the 'Aliddle Ages. In the Sixteenth Century it spread toward the centre of Europe and has since ex tended over the entire Continent and the Brit ish Isles. The plant is upright, branched, 1 to 3 feet in height ; the leaves are triangular, heart-shaped or hal herd -shaia‘d: the flowers pale red, the seed (nut) black and triangular, the angles even (not toothed). It is culti vated as a food and forage plant in Europe and America, very commonly serves as a crop for green manuring. Over eleven Mill ion bushels were grown in the United States in 1899. In Germany buckwheat is inm•i valued as a crop, particularly for moorlands and other poor soils. It is of easy cultivation and requires very little nitrogen in the soil, but responds quickly to applications of potash and lime. Thirty bush els or more per :wry may be expected, weighing 46 or 48 pounds per bushel. In America the seed is usually sown broadcast over the land, which has been plowed in autumn or early spring and well scarified or harrowed. About a bushel and a half of seed is required when sown broad east, but a bushel is sufficient if drilled. In the
latter ease it should not be sown in narrower drills than one foot apart, but two feet is recom mended as being better for the finceeeding, crop, as the wider intervals can be properly cultivated. It should not be sown too early, as the young plants are very sensitive In frost. When the lower seeds are ripe, it should be mown, as they are easily shed out if allowed to stand too long.
Wet weather during the harvesting season is more injurious to buckwheat than to most other cereals. Tartarian buckwheat (Fagopy•um or Polygonum Tataricum), a native of Siberia, is distinguished by the toothed edges of the seeds and its more vigorous growth. It is hardy and very productive, but the seeds fall out when ripe more readily than those of the common species, and the flour is darker colored and somewhat bit ter. It is well adapted for green manuring. Notch seeded buckwheat ( Fagopyrton or Polygonum margination) is said to be a native of China. Its seeds are larger than those of common buck wheat, and their angles are winged. When grown in Great Britain. many of its flowers are generally abortive. Perennial buckwheat (Fagopyrum or Polygonum cymosum) is a native of Nepal, very vigorous in its growth. but pro ducing, at least in Great Britain, comparatively little seed. The triangular black seed of climb ing buckwheat or blackbine (Fagopyrum or Polygonum conrolrulus) greatly resembles buck wheat, but is smaller. The plant—a very com mon weed in gardens and eorn-fields in Great Britain—also exhibits much similarity, notwith standing its different habits and twining stem. For illustration, see Plate of