Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-01-28
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
to feed, many farmer says: II
there is such a thing as a crop that
will grow and furnish green succulent
food at this season, / will certainly try
and have field OF it next year."
There is such a crop, and it may be
well during these winter days to post
yourself concerning it, to determine
pn field, find where you can obtain the
seed, and be in all readiness so as not to
be cheated out Of another year. The
crop referred to is rape, and is growing
in favor each year. In some ways this
resembles the turnip 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, but the feeding value OF
them has placed this crop ahead OF many
others as pasture crop, and especially
for hogs and sheep. It makes . slow
growth at first, but after 1t gets fairly
started, 1t shoots up rapidly, and on good
soil makes q most astonishing growth.
A yield OF ten tons per acre is 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. rioh,
warm loan. II grows but slowly on
stifr clays, but will grow fairly well even
on clays and sandy soils, provided 1t Is
we'll supplied with plant food. Making
such luxuriant growth as II does, II
should receive at the time the soil is be-
ing prepared 200 pounds per acre Of
fertilizer containing four per cent. nitro
gen. seven per cent. phosphoric acid and
six per cent. actual potash. If such q
compound cannot be secured, the
phosphoric acid can be secured in the
form Of acid phosphate, or ground
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. 1t also grows
well on old muck soils; on such land the
nitrogen can be omitted, but a liberal
amount OF potash must be used, since
those soils are very deficient in that ele-
ment.
1t might be mentioned in this con-
nection, says the Farmers Review, that
let the crop be rape or what it will, aston
ishing results come from the use of pot
ash on these much and bogus" soils.
which are oftentmes classed as unpro-
ductive.
In preparing the field for the rape
crop, the ground should be plowed
about as deep as for corn and we'll 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
casting and covering with a light har-
row. II drilled, ordinary turnip drill
can be used. The amount of seed sowed
per acre Is from three to five pounds ~
sown broadcast, and two or three II with
drills. A very satisfactory way is to sow
1t in the corn at the last cultivation
While 1t may slightly interfere with the
cutting up of the corn, it makes a splen-
uid feeding ground for pigs and lambs be-
lore the corn is taken off, and a general
pasture afterwards. The stock can he
turned on 1t after it is eight or ten weeks
old. Care must be exercised in turning
sheep to 1t, that they do not eat their
oil until they are somewhat accustomed
to the crop, or bloating may follow. The
stock should not be allowed to eat II too
closely, as it will sprout up again and
make pasture Of longer duration unless
nipped off close to the ground. It isa
good idea to have two lots of IT. and LEI
the stock eat on one awhile, then change
to the other and give the first a chancs
to make new growth. The best va
riety is the dwarf Essex, which has n
good root and branches out heavily.
The leaves commence to branch near the
surface of the ground and extend in most
every direction, until the surface of the
ground is hidden by a mass of foliage
from one to three feet high, according
to soil and season. If we'll supplied with
plant food, it will do we'll during the dry
season and into the late fall, furnishing
an unrivaled pasture for sheep. pigs
and even cattle, and a crop the farmer
will find in many ways to be highly prof
table.