The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-08-21
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1APn ~ n roRAan PLANT. II
lOsnclusions hsnl 4 lnxp sra1as \ at
the OHIO statlon.
4 a bulletin from the Ohio experiment
station ays: Rape belongs to the
same family of plants 60 cabbage. mus
tard. turnips ANA rutabasas. IN the
early stages OF IT. growth It resembles
the tnrnip very much. It has only
been within the last few years that
this plant has been grown n this
country. It has been grown In Canada
% . feed for sheep for number Of \
years, and only within recent years
has been introduced into the States for
the same purpose. It is therefore only
n an experimental stage IN this
country. Like come Of the other for
age plants, II. may be termed . catch
crop. i may be be planted almost any
time after the LIST Of May, on until the
LIT Of August. . s
Sown any time within the three
months above noted, rape will give
fair yield. The earlier seeding, it may
be noted, will grow much more slowly
the first few weeks than II planted
after the first Of July, but owing to the
wide range Of time In which the seed
may be started it is possible to have
green rape, as pasture or as soiling
crop, from the LIST Of July until the 1st
Of December, or nearly SO, for the rea-
son that, unlike other forage plants,
thus far considered, moderate frost
does not injure 1t, and 1t viii bear pas
turing or cutting until the thermome-
ter gets down several degrees below
the freezing point. It may be sown
broadcast and lightly narrowed In, but
It will give as large, IL not larger,
yields when planted or drilled in rows
about thirty inches apart and cult
waited, giving only surface cultivation.
This last method Is recommended for
the earlier planting; that planted after
the LIST Of July will, in ordinary sea-
sons, do quite as well sown broadcast.
On the 18th Of May, 1895, patch Of
the Dwarf Essex rape was planted in
drills on the station farm. It came up
very nicely In about ten days, but
grew rather slowly until the last two
weeks In June, after which 1t grew
much more rapidly, reaching an aver
age height Of about four feet by the
middle Of August. At this stage we
began cutting and feeding it to some Of
our sheep In the barn. They ate it
with relish, leaving no part of stem
nor leaf. This patch netted yield Of
twelve tons and LOO pounds per acre.
After this cut of, 1t Immediately
started up second growth, and in
about thirty days the second growth
had reached an average height Of about
eighteen inches. This was cut down
and fed. A third crop started and
about twenty degrees above zero,
1t.
About the LIST Of July we cleared OF
small patch. which had been sown to
cow peas, sowed 1t to rape and har-
rowed 1t lightly to cover the seed; in
three weeks from date Of planting 1t
had almost hidden the ground, show
ing q very much more rapid growth
than when planted earlier. Our sheep
were very fond Of 1t, and did we'll
while feeding on 1t.
II pastured upon the rapeS patch,
sheep, when first turned In, or rather
after they get to eating nicely, should
not be turned in when very hungry or
when the rape is wet, as they may
overeat and suffer from Indigestion, or
they may die from bloating. There is
also some danger Of them purglng at
first. IL they have access to an old
pasture when first turned on the rape
1t will be very elective in preventing
scours as well as other disorders likely
to arise from impaired digestion. II
the first few days are passed without
trouble, 1t will not be necessary to re-
move the sheep from the patch, but
It will always be judicious to look
after them frequently. A serious OBJ
lection to the rape plant is that it lis
liable to be2attacked with the cabbage
aphis. This little pest is capable Of
destroying whole field within q very
short time.
A greater objection to the crop is the
tapidity with which it depletes the
soil. Should future experiments give
results similar TO those already Aob-
fApe very doubtful quantity. Were
It not for the two objections, which are
only tentative, rape might well be re-
garded as q new forage crop of more
npassing value. e'.7 gSs5sass 4. I i Il I
Handy Ways OF Loading Bulky
81 Forage.
Tbs device shown in Flgurelreprs-.s
ssennts the front part Of the ii running Il
gear Of O common farm wagon, to
which is attached sort Of fodder or
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