The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-06-25
FARM AND GARDEN
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AoRICULTURISTS.
Some Up-to-Dste Hints About Cu'''S~-
ton of the Soil and Yields Thereot-
Horticulture, yitioulturs and Floric"i
ture.
Rama and IT. Cultivation.


]. H. Skinner, assistant agricultur-
ist of the Indiana Experiment Sta-
ton, sends out a press bulletin on
rape growing. We believe this plant
to be very valuable to the farmer ana
would advise its more general grow
ing. The bulletin referred to is as foi-
lows:
Rape is a succulent plant belonging
to the cabbage family. 1t grows rap
idly. making a large amount of green
food, upon which pigs and sheep grow
well. To make a success OF rape, seiect
a rich piece of land free from Weeus'
Pillow deep, then roll-if not too moist
and harrow till the soil is finely pull
verified and we'll firmed down. FINISH
the preparation by running plank
drag over 1t. Such a seed bed Will
terminate the seed quickly and enable
the plants to withstand dry weather.
l prefer to have the blowing done just
before sowing. This will give the rape
an even start with the weeds.
Sow with garden seed-drill, three
pounds, or FIVE pounds broadcast per
acre. When drilled the rows snoulo
not be more than 20 to "a inches apart
Drill sowing will permit cultivation'
which will keep down weeds, conserve
moisture and increase the yield.
Where drilled the animals destroy less
as they walk, and lie down between
the rows. If sown broadcast cover
with harrow or weeder and roll. In
many cases it is well to roll the drill
sowing also.
The season will control time OF seed
ing. Do not SOW until the ground mas
become warm enough to quickly germ
mate the seed, as it comes up better
and grows more rapidly. Usually II
should not be sown before the middle
of April-in this latit''de of north CEN
trail Indiana 1t is best to SOW at In
tervals of ten days to two weeks. BY
the use of low hurdles, this will give
fresh pasture throughout the season
as the early sowing can be grazeo Oh
second time. This also makes less
waste as the stock does not run ovel
1t SO much. Rape may be sown in thu
corn Just before the last cultivation
II the soil is not too dry, it will grow
well unless the corn is very large ant
thick. Where thus sown it makes
splendid pasture for lambs from Sep
TENDER till cold weather. Some mel
have had success in sowing rape will
oats. This however is not sure wa.
as the season will have much to d.
with it.
1t is a good plan to have the rap
patch near the barns and alongside o
the pasture. This brings the animal
under the stockman's eye, and If
lamb "bloats" he is there to give it at
tention. If the stock can go freel
back and forth between the pastur
and rape, it will save trouble, time
labor and even loss. Rape thus SUP
plements the pasture, making ia
lambs and good pigs. Where shee
have access to both rape and grass
they should not be turned on the rap
until the middle of the day when tn
animals are not hungry enough
gorge themselves, and the rape is FIRE
from dew. If they do not have tn
run of the pasture, turn them on tn
rape for an hour day gradually il
creasing the time, until they becom
accustomed to it. Then keep them O
it continuously till the end of the sea
son.