Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-03-30

HOWTORAISERAPE

j x
9 WHEN IN sHoULDBE sowN AND
Io HOW 1T SHOULD BE 8
o FED. Q
Rape is a hardy plant and a be
sown any time from very early spring
until after harvest, according to the
wants Of the stockman, says Professor
w. "A. Henry In The Breeders Gazette.
To get the largest and most nutritious
crops 1t should be sown in drills and
cultivated the same as a root crop, with
this important exception, however-no
thinning is required. Where drilled
SOW from two to three pounds of seed
per acre. Rape may also be sown
broadcast upon well prepared land, in
which case 1t should be covered lightly
with a fine tooth drag or a brush har-
row. When b~roadcasted, from four to
five pounds Of seed should be used per
acre.
Some farmers have received satisfac-
tory returns by sowing rape seed o. a
field planted with oats or barley. In
this case the best method of procedure
Is as follows: "A week or ten days after
the oats or barley have been soWn, and
just after the young plants have shown
above the surface of the soil, sow two
to three pounds Of rape seed per acre.
Harrow this in with a light fine tooth
drag. Covering the seed in this man
ner does not injure the young cat or
barley plants, but is a help rather than
otherwise. By sowing later than the
oat OF barley seeding the young rape
plants are held in check and do not
make much growth until after the
main crop is harvested. Then, having
the benefits of full sunshine and all
available moisture, the young plants
spring forth rapidly and oon furnish
a large amount of feed. Farmers who
have sown rape seed along with oats
or barley have found, to their sorrow,
that in wet eason the rape plants
grow as tall as the grain and furnish
SO much green material as to make
trouble in harvesting the grain. The
later seeding Of rape with grain is
therefore to be recommended as the
preferable practice.
In sections of the country where the
seasons are fairly long stubble fields
may be ploWed up and sowed to rape
and a great deal of forage secured be-
fore winter sets in. No matter how
the seed may be sown the hardy plants
spring up quickly, and during the early
growth one cannot tell them from ruta
baga or SWede turnips. When they
reach a height Of eight or ten inches,
they can be pastured by any kind Of
stock. Rape is most suitable for sheep,
with pigs second. OF course the young
plants are quite watery; a they grow
Older the nutriment is more condensed
and satisfactory.
So far as known to the writer, the
only insect pest attacking the rap is
q louise, which severely Injuries it in hot,
dry weather. This pest is sometimes
avoided by planting the rape either
very early or very late.
Care must be taken to order forage
rape, for many mistakes have been
made by seedmen who. have furnished
OIL SEED or bird seed rape instead.
These latter varieties furnish plants
Whlcn blossom about eight weeks after
tne SEED rs field OF bird seed
rape Y. bloom resembles a field Of wild
mustard, the yellow blossoms being
visible from a long distance. The true
forage rape e not blossom the same
season tneSseed is soWn, but bears it's
blossom and fruit the second year, the
same tas q cabbage and ruta baga.
BIRD seedsrape does not become a pest
Ike Wild mustard, but since the leaves
are small, ike mustard leaves, there
IL little Or no feeding value to the crop.
In ordering seed be sure to specify the
Dwarf Essex forage rape. The seed is
imported England or grown in
the northwestern United States near
Puget sound. It costs from to 10
cents per pound, according to the guam
tity ordered. It can be obtained from
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