The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-07-24
FARMER AND PLANTER.
GREEN FEED FOR STOCK.
some Information Regarding the Cultiva-
ton and Feeding of Rape.

some Information Regarding the Cultiva-
ton and Feeding of Rape.
Mr.. +. j. McMillen writes from Tun-
nell Hill, KY, asking information
about the cultivation of rape for feed
ing sheep. lie wants to know how to
plant, how much to the acre, how to
put it away. when to SOW, ETC., in fact
completes history of it, as it Is some
thing new"
We probably can not answer the
question better than to quote from
bulletin No. IS of the Wisconsin ex-
pertinent station. The bulletin gives a
good deal of information, both as to
the cultivation of rape and its uses as
feed for sheep and hogs. We would
suggest that any of our readers who
are interested and want further infor-
nation on the subject write to the di-
rector of the experiment station at
Madison, Wis, for copy of bulletin
No. 5s.-Farmers' Home Journal.
During the past five years rape has
been experimental with at our station
farm in various ways for soiling pur-
poses and for fattening sheep and
swine. This experience leads us to be-
ileye that the crop is worthy of culti-
walton on Wisconsin farms for these
purposes, and it is to further extend
the growth of 1t that this summary of
our experience is submitted.
LIMITS TO THE GROWTH OF TIE CROP.
The popularity of the plant and the
rapid extension of the area devoted to
1T might lead to the inference that
there is no question as to its adapta-
bility for all climatic conditions. As
lar as our experience goes, the crop
has not suffered from dry and hot
seasons as much as we expected,
bat being very succulent plant
of luxuriant growth it must suffer
more than other plants that are less
SO. This is especially true when the
dry season begins before the plant has
had time to establish itself. In some
districts small plant louise completely
ruins the crop for feeding purposes
during the season of drought. For these
reasons, in TRYING the crop for the first
time, it WOULD be advisable to limit it
to half an acre or so.
| hihlo ~ USES OF The CROP.
Our experience is confined to the use
OF this croop for soiling, breeding
sheep and swine, and for fattening
these by folding and pasturing them
on the standing crop. For these uses
we know the plant to be very valu-
able. 1t is not crop that to our
knowledge can be cured or stored in
"a m " Ia
mains fresh for pasturing several
weeks, but when cut it Wits SO rapid
~ that it should be fed the day it is
cut for the stock to relish 1t most.
VARIETY TO GROW.
The variety to which our experience
Is confined is the Dwarf Essex fodder
rape. This variety does not produce
seed the first year: other varieties val
liable for their seeds do SO and are con-
sequently useless for fodder purposes.
TIE SOIL SUITED FOR RAPE.
1t does best on soil that is rich in
humus or decayed vegetable matter.
1t is very rank grower, hence the
soil can not be too rich for it. Old pas
lures finely worked make an excep-
tionally good soil for it. Part of a pas
ture broken up in this way can be used
to good advantage for rape feeding, as
sheep must have some pasture in con-
nection with the rape to do WELL In
locating a field for folding sheep, the
question of shade and easiness of ac-
cess should also be considered in con-
ne.ion with that of the soil.
PREPARATION OF THE SOL.
IL the crop is to be used for soiling,
the seed Should be sown as earlysin
the spring as possible, and to do that
it would be best to pillow the land in
the fall. Then as soon as it can be
worked in the spring cross-disc it and
make 1T as fine as possible with the pull
verizer.
ESTIMATED AREA NEEDED.
When lambs are being fattened on it
with one pound of grain per head
daily, twenty of them will eat one acre
in two months. That is fair estimate
from all our trials In our trials with
hogs, we found that 20 of them would
eat, with the grain they received in fat
tening, about one acre in three months
AMOUNT OF SEED.
When sown in drills, which has been
the most satisfactory with us, use two
pounds of seed toaan acre, and when
broadcasted, three pounds will be suf-
fcient. Sowing the seed ON ridges
does not need to have any advantages
under our conditions. ~
3 METHOD OF SEEDING.
: The best method of seeding is to
drill the seed in rows 30 inches apart.
The cultivation that may be given the
crop when drilled enables. it to with
stand the drought better.
SEEDING WITH OTHER CROPS.
The plan of seeding the corn field at
The time of the last cultivation has
been found successful by some. but it
has not been satisfactory with us, as