The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-16
THOUSAND HEADED KALE
AND ITS CULTIVATION
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS AS
TO PRODUCING BEST OF
THIS GREAT FODDER,
THOUSAND HEADED KALE

through the winter from NoNefnne
or October TO April. The bette
types Of plants endure the William
cite Valley winter weather withou
injury, yielding from 80 to 20 tons o
Sueculent and nutritious green feet
per acre under favorable conditions
II may also be grown for summe
green feed, although less successful
ly,
A deep, well.drained, rich loan
soil is best for this crop bu, the ordi
nary Valley. clay loan soil, ii wei
drained, thoroughly titled and heay
lily manured, will produce excellent
yields. Ii possible a long, narrow
slightly sloping field, running length
wise Of piece Of sod ground, or I
wide sodded fence row, or one OF the
farm lanes is preferable, as this per
mits easier hauling during the wet
winter weather,
The kale ground should be heavily
manured and deeply plowed in the
fall ii possible, and re-pIowed once
early in the spring and again before
transplanting, II fall blowing can
not be done, manuring during the
winter and spring and deep early
spring blowing repeated twice before
transplanting, will put the ground in
good shape, Following the second
plowing the ground should be kept
clean OF weeds and thoroughly null
ched to conserve the moisture, by
frequent light narrowing until trans
planting time.
For transplanting the seed should
be sown in drill rows about three
feet apart as early in March as it is
possible to get on the ground, If
possible a strip OF the bes, drained
ground on the farm should be used
in the fall so that it need only be
replowed and worked down at once
for the seed in the spring, thus get
ting the plants started as early as
possible. One pound OF seed will
furnish enough plants ior an acre.
Transplanting should be done
about June lst, il possible, when the
plants are 6 to IL inches high. Later
transplanting is liable to be held
back by the dry weather so much
as not to be ready for cutting in ear
ly fall. With the ground in fine tilth
transplanting of small acreages may
be done rapidly by hand with a long
bladed spade, care being taken not
to injure the roots in taking them up
from the drill row, and replacing
them in the new ground. They
should be placed three feet apart
each way, covered a little deeper
than in the drill row, the soil frmed
around them with the foot and later
when wilted down, the whole field
should be rolled. Plants should be
left every three feet in the original
drill rows and all extra plants saved
for replacing those that may not
survive transplanting.
Transplanting Of larger acreages
may be done by plowing and placing
The plants three feet apart in every |
.hird furrow, covering the roots but |
not the leaves, with the next furrow
urned and following the days work |
With roller. Missing plants may
'e replaced later by hand.
Instead of transplanting the seed
nay be dropped in hills feet apart
ZACH way, several seed to the hill, as
'arly as the ground can be thorough
y prepared. Later each hill should
,e thinned, leaving one vigorous
liant. As a rule this method does
lot give as good yields as transplant
ng.
After transplanting or thinning the
eld should receive frequent shallow
ultivation to conserve the moisture
ntil the plants branch out so far as
0 prevent further tillage.
In October or November after the
reen corn has all been fed the kale,
Though not fully grown, will be
eady for feeding. The plants should
e cut off at the ground with an axe
r slash, and the entire plant tossed
n to the wagon or shed and hauled
the feeding place. Enough may
e cut at one time for one or several
ays' feeding. Frozen kale should
c allowed to thaw out before feed
lg. Where it is thought the older
Iants may taint the milk they should
e fed Immediately after milking. 40
ounds OF kale per day with 20
ounds Of good hay, such as vetch
nd oats, fed in two portions, makes
] ideal ration for mich cows, very
tile or no mill feed being used. The
ale may be fed as needed clear
rough the winter until April or
ter For summer feeding seed may
fall sown and transplanted early
the spring, being ready, under
yorable conditions, for cutting dur
& July, August and September.
Mess the ground could be irrigated
'wever, once or twice the yields
c not heavy at this season.
Stripping Of the lower leaves of
c kale as a regular practice is not
commended as it is extremely la.
rious, especially during wet wealth
puddlcs the soil badly and causes