Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-08-02
Rape for Sheen.

Our sheep breeders have for the last
two or three years taken great deal
of interest in the subject OF rape cult
ure. The following contribution to the
Country Gentleman by Geo. L. Breck,
of Paw Paw, Michigan, VIII be read
with interest:
AT The Willows our object is to raise
feed for sheep, which is our only cash
resource. For this purpose we SOW
rye in the corn about August 10, and
pasture it during fall and spring.
About May 10 we pillow this rye under
and drag it over once, allow the weeds
to start, then give it thorough eulti-
walton, put the ground In tilth and
SOW the rape broadcast, using from
five to six pounds per acre. We then
brush it over lightly with smooth
ing-harrow, and il there are any humps
and the ground is not too moist we
roll 1t. The rape como up quickly,
and in six weeks will average two
feet high over the field, and be so
thick that the sheep will eat into 1t
without tramping it down SO as to
injure it. For the second sowing we
usually take a piece from which we
have just cut clover hay, pillow it, al
low the weeds to start the same way,
put the ground in the best possible
condition for seeding it, and SOW the
seed in the same quantity, which gives
US a crop for October and November
pasture. One acre Of rape will carry
fifteen Shropshire sheep for six weeks
on the average. Both our soil and
climate seem well adapted to it. In
England rape Is always sown in drills
and cultivated, but their ground is
much harder than ours, is more foul,
and crops do not grow so quickly
which seems to make it necessary to
cultivate it in drills. Rape, like buck
wheat, springs up so quickly that
there is very little trouble from weeds,
because the rape gets the start of
them and smothers them back.
BY this combination of rye and rape
we are enabled to carry our sheep
into the fall without feeding hay, and,
not only that, we get better growth
on our breeding sheep and more flesh
on those that are intended for the
feedingpen. We have also found rape
valuable crop for bringing what
would otherwise be barren ewes into
breeding When our ewes have been
running in the rape through the breed
ing season, ii has been q rare exception
that we have had one fail to breed.
Sheep thrive upon it and make a
growth that is more than satisfactory.
it, often seems wonderful. | know of
no better preparation for sheep intend
ed for the feeding pen.
| have grown three successive crops
of rye and rape, or six crops in three
years, upon the same ground, and 1t
is continually growing richer, each
crop increasing each year. | am thus
able to save my pasture al time
when stock is most injurious TO it, and
this Is secondary object of consid-
cradle Importance where we carry
from one hundred to five hundred
Shropshire sheep on two hundred
acres of land.
The dwarf Essex rape does not seed
the first year. and winter kills it; so
there is no danger of its fouling the
land. In fact, | have found it good
cleaning crop. Among my numerous
inquiries have been some asking II 1t
can be sown in the corn before the
last blowing without injuring the corn,
and If it can be sown in woods or on
poor land. To these questions my an
swer would have to be in the mega
tive. 1t might make something of a
growth in the corn field, but | doubt
If it would be profitable. The rape is
grown entirely for the top, the root
being valueless for any purpose, and
|. when a full crop covers the ground 1t
is not easy even to walk THROUGH It..
1t requires good soil and in good con-
dition. Under these conditions, and
for the purpose for which | grow IT.,
| have found it very satisfactory, and
shall SOW each year what ! require for
my flock.