The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-04-14
RAPE AS A FORAGE CROP.
A Suggestion That Will Prove Of
Value to the Farmer During
Next Summers Heat.

Every year during the hot months,
when much of the pasture has dried
up and the corn Is not yet in condition
10 feed. many a farmer says: III
there is such a thing as a crop that
will grow and furnish green succulent
food at this season. will certainly Try
and have a field Of il next year.
There is such a crop. and it may be
we'll during these winter days to post
yourself concerning il. TO determine
On a field find where you can obtain The
seed and be IN all readiness so as not to
be cheated ont OF another year. The
crop referred 10 is rape, and is growing
In favor each year IN some ways this
resembles the turuip plant; however.
the root IS stringy and does not in that
respect resemble the turnip which Is
/ Dubious The leaves and stems OF rape
are the only portion of the plant that
/ are valuable bni tho feeding value OF
| them has placed this crop ahead Of many
/ others a. a pasture crop and especially
for hogs and sheep. II makes o slow
| growth al frst. but after 10 gets fairly
started. 80 shoots mp rapidly. and on good /
soil makes most astonishing growth. /
A yield of ten tons per acre IS a COM |
mon report while from the Wisconsin |
station comes a report Of nine and three /
fourths tons from half acre
The plant does best on deep. rich.
warm loan II grows but slowly on /
stiff clays. but viii grow fairly well even
on clays and sandy soils provided It is
well supplied with plant food Making
such a luXuriant growth as it does. il
should receive al the time the soil is be-
Ing prepared POO pounds per acre Of a
fertilizer containing four per cent. nitro
gen, seven per cent. phosphoric acid and
six per cent. actual potash II such a
compound cannot De secured. the
phosphoric acid can be secured IN the
form Of acid phosphate. or grounI
steamed bone and the potash from muri-
ate Of potash These can be supplied be-
fore the seed is sOwn. and the nitrogen
applied IN the form Of nitrate Of soda as
top dressing afterwards. II also grows
well on old muck soils; on such land the
nitrogen can be omitted. but liberal
amount Of potash must be used. since
those soils are very deficient in that ele-
ment
It might be mentioned in this con-
nection. says the Farmers Review. that
let the crop be rape or what Il will. aston.
ishing results come from the use of pot
ash on these much and bogus" soils.
which are ofientimes classed as unpro-
ductiye.
In preparing the field for the rape
crop. the ground should be plowed
about as deep as for corn and well har-
rowed. All vegetable matter should
be carefully buried and the ground
rolled to make an earth mulch which
is so valuable in retaining moisture
Possibly the best results follow broad
lasting and covering with a light har-
-ow II drilled. ordinary turnip drill =
an be used. The amount OF seed sowed
Der acre is from three to five pounds If
'own broadcast. and two or three If with
irills. a very satisfactory way is 10 SOW
I in the corn al the last cultivation
While il may slightly interfere with the
ntting up Of the corn, It makes q splen-
lid feeding ground for pigs and lambs be.
ore the corn Is taken of. and a general
assure afterwards. The stock can be
urned on h after II Is eight or ten weeks
Id. Care must be exercised in turning
heep to It, that they do not eat their
u until they are somewhat accustomed
o the crop. or blOating may follow. The
took should not be allowed TO eat II too
losely, as it Will sprout ND again and
lake pasture Of longer duration unless
ipped OF close TO the ground. II isa
ood Idea to have two lots Of Il. and let
be stock eat on one awhile. then change
the other and give the first a chance
make new growth. The best va
ETY. is the dwarf Essex. which has a e
)od root and branches out heavily.
ne leaves commence TO branch near the
lrlace Of the ground and extend I'm most
'ery direction, until the surface Of the
'ound is hidden by a mass Of foliage
ON one to three feet high. according
soil and season. II well supplied with y
ant food. # will do well during the dry :
ason and into the late fall furnishing e
unriyaled pasture for sheep. pigs Il
I'd even cattle. and a crop the farmer IS
'll find IN many ways to be highly prof
bic. a