The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 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 drled
up and the corn is not yet in condition
to feed, many a 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 a 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
a field. find where you can obtain the
seed, and be in all readiness so as not 10
be cheated out Of another year. Inc
crop referred to is rape, and IS growing
in favor each yea In some ways this
resembles the turnip plant; however
the root is stringy and does no IN mat
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 a pasture crop, and especially
for hogs and sheep. 1t makes a slow
growth at first, but after it gets fairly
started, it shoots up rapidly, and on good
soil makes a most astonishing growth.
A WELD 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 a half acre.
The plant does hest on deep, rich,
warm loan. 1t grows but slowly on
stiff clays, but will SOW fairly well even
Oh clays and sandy soils, provided it is
well supplied with plant food. Making
such a luxuriant growth as it does. it
should receive at the time the soil is be-
ing prepared 200 pounds per acre of a
fertilizer containing four per cent. nitro
gen, even per cent. phosphoric acid and
six per cent. actual potash. If such a
compound cannot be 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 a
top dressing afterwards. 1t also grows
well on old muck soils; on such land the
nitrogen a 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 N
nection. says the Farmers Review, that
Les the crop be rape OF what it Will. aston
ishing results come from the use of pot
oc6 ~, thccc Tot1Th cn1 aThnn1,C' cnfIc
which are oftentimCs claSsed as unpro-
6uctive.
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
casting and covering with a light har-
row. If drilled, ordinary turnip drill
can be used. The amount of seed sowed
per acre is from three 10 five pounds if
sown broadcast. and two or three if with
drills. A very satisfactory way is to SOW
it in the corn at the last cultivation.
While it may slightly interfere with the
up of the corn, it makes a splen-
did feeding ground for pigs and lambs be-
fore the corn is taken off. and a general
pasture afterwards. The stock can be
turned On it after it is eight or ten weeks
old. Care must be exercised in turning
sheep to it, that they do not eat their
fill until they are somewhat accustomed
to the crop, or bloating may. follow. The
stock should not be allowed to eat it too
closely, as it will sprOut up again and
make a pasture of longer duration unless
nipped Off close to the ground. 1t is a
good idea to have two lots of it, and let
the stock eat on one awhile. then change
to the other and give the first a chance
to make a new growth. The best va
riety is the dwarf Essex, which has a
good root and branches out heavily.
The leaves commence to:branch near.the
of theground and exten in most
every direction, until the surface of the
ground is shidden by aTnass of foliage
from one. to three feet high. according
to soil and season. If well 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.