The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-08-25
AUGUST.
THECULTEvAT1oN OF RAPE.

cultivation Of this plant during the
past winter and spring has induced
the writer to believe that expert
ments with it by others will be
useful.
Rape seed were bought from r.
II. Allen & Co., New York, last
fall, and sowed during the latter
part of September. The time of
sowing Was altogether too late.
But it was determined to make the
experiment, with the full knowledge
of this drawback. a portion Of
the seed was sown in the garden,
and the rest in the turnip field, by
the side Of the turnips, both being
used for folding sheep. Notwith-
standing the lateness Of the sowing,
the rape grew finely, and was eaten
eagerly by the sheep, after the
turnips had been consumed. That
which was sown in the garden was
allowed to run its course and make
seed. When in blossom it was be-
tween five and six feet tall, and as
thick literally as a canebrake. The
quantity of green food at this stage
of growth was enormous. When
in flower, a large portion of the
plants would be consumed by sheep
or cattle. The harder. portion Of
the stalks would be afterwards eaten
by hogs.
No degree Of cold at the South
seems to affect this plant-it con-
tinues to grow during the whole
winter. Its great advantage is that
it fills up the gap between the time
wherein turnips are exhausted, and
the coming of grass in the spring.
It's especial value is for ewes with
young lambs, afording them a rich
green food when it is obtainable
from no other plant. It is equally
adapted to COWS giving milk.
On ordinary lands it should be
sown and cultivated in the same
manner with turnips-that is to
say, in drills, two to two and a
half feet distant: and thinned out
to about six inches in the rows.
On rich land it may be sowed in
drills twelve inches apart and once
hoed. When sowed in drills two to
two and a half feet apart, it should
be once ploughed, as we'll as hoed.
On new ground, where the timber
has been burned off and the ashes
scattered, or on we'll cowpenned
land, rape seed may be sown broad
cast, as in the case Of turnips, but
the plants should be thinned with
the hoe, so as to stand about twelve
inches apart each way. Drilling,
however, is te he preferred, except
in ne, ground where it would be
difficult to work the plants.
The seed should be sown in
August or earl y in September, in
this latitude and elevation. Nearer
the coast it might be sown later in
the season. When drilled, about
two pounds of seed to the acre will
be sufficient. The seed is cheap.
It is raised and saved with ease.
The small quantity sowed IN the
garden of the writer has yielded
fully a peck of clear seed.
In England and on parts of the
Continent this plant is used for
two purposes. The seed is sown
for the oil contained in it, and the
cake is fed to sheep and cattle,
for which purpose it is highly
priced. With US it would be valu-
able OILY fer folding purposes, as it
is not equal to cotton seed for the
production Of oil and oil cake or
meal.
The success IN the cultivation OF
rape by the writer will induce a
much larger breadth of it to be
sowed by him this summer. It is
worthy of trial by others.
This plant cannot be cultivated
for feeding purposes at the North
on account Of the extreme severity
of the winter. It will be wise in
US to take advantage Of our mild
winter climate by fostering the
growth Of valuable forage plants,
which will afford green food during
that seas on.-C. ". HOWARD,
in Rural Carolinian for August.