The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-05-30
RAPE CULTURE.

ably the most valuable addition that
has been made to cur list of forage
plants within the last hundred years.
When I frat wrote concerning it, in
the American agricultural press in
1891 eaid che day would come in the
United States when 10000, 900 sheep
and lambs would be fattened on rape
annually in this country. The fulfill
ment of this prediction is assuredly
near at hand.
This plant will grow in any kind OF
good land, but it grows best of all On
muck and swamp SOILS Poor sands
and stiff clays are least adapted to its
culture. Good corn land will answer
very we'll, and the same is true of the
average prairie soils. 1t may be sown
any time after the opening Of spring
and before the advent of autumn, pro
viding there is moisture enough in the
land to sprout the seed, but it is more
common to SOW after May lat than
earlier. This plant can be grown to
perfection in any State in the Union
during some portion of the year as it
usually reaches it's growth in from
eight to ten weeks from the time of
planting. But it rs better adapted to
cool and moist climates than to those
that are hot and dry.
Il may be soWn as a catch crop or as
the sole crop grown. Two crops may
be sown in one year on the same piece
Of land. 1t may be made to follow
winter rye, pastured, or cut when ma.
tUre; and it may in many instances be
made to follow wheat and barley, the
first cutting Of clover, strawberries
and garden truck, and unless on stiff
soils, it may be sown along with grain
TO provide autumn pasture after the
grain is cut. Il may be soWn alone or
in combination wish such plants as
rye, corn and sorghum, out it is usually
preferable to SOW it alone, except when
it is seeded to clover. On prairie soils
clover sown along with rape will make
8 good stand. The pasturiDg will help
rather than hurt the clover.
This plant is sown broadcast and
without cultivation, or it is soWn in
drills, from twenty to thirty six inches
apart, and cultivated like corn. On
stiff soils it should be sown in rows.
On the rich soils of the prairie it will
grow very we'll when broadcasted.
6NN NgaVu
The plants are not usually thinned.
The cultivation in rows is the same as
for rutabagas Or mangels, except that
the plants are not thinned. When
sowu alone and as the sole crop the
land should be cleaned by narrowing
occasionally on the upturned surface
from the opening of spring until the
seed is sown. When this process is
followed up by cultivation in rows
rape becomes g most excellent clean
ing crop. Two pounds of seed to the
acre is ample when sown in rows.
Usually half that much will suffice.
Three to five pounds will answer when
sown broadcast. Any method may be
adopted in sowing broadcast that will
ans wer when sowing clover seed. It
is usual to follow with one stroke Of
the harrow. When sown with grain
on prairie soils rape seed is mixed with
the grain at the time of sowing the
grain. The plants remain diminutive
until the grain is cut. In good seasons,
and especially on prairie soils, they
soon make much growth. From one
to two pounds of seed are sown with
the grain. Thousands Of acres are
thus so IN on the prairie every year.
In the East, and indeed on all soils
low in fertility, rape ground should be
enriched before sowing the seed. 1t
cannot be injured by piling on farm
yard manure. It responds nicely to
applications OF phosphates and super
phosphetes put in at the same time as
the seed. But usu ally there is fertility
enough in the black soils of the prairie
to grow good crops.
Rape must be pastured with caution
when animals are first put upon it.
There is danger from blOating, and
when it is wet there is more danger.
1t is excellent for horses. cattle, sheep
and swine either as pasture or az soil
ing food, but will taint the milk of
dairy COWS unless fed with caution. It
is more commonly grown to provide |
pasture tor sheep and swlne.-Thomss