The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-07-20
Clemson Extension WOrk-Article
XV-Rapc.

Rape was first introdu ced into this
country from England, where it has
been grown for hundreds of years.
On rich land it is one of our best soil
ing crops for hogs and sheep. 1t be-
longs to the cabbage family and the
leaves resemble those of the mustard
family. There are several varieties
but the best variety is the Dwarf Es-
sex rape, which is biennial. There
are number of varieties, but these
are of little value. If Dwarf Essex
rape is planted any time during the
summer or fall, it will afford pastur-
age all during the winter and will
mature its seed the following June.
When grown on rich land two or
three cuttings can be Obtained. How
ever, the best way to handle rape is
to plant it for pasturing purposes.
Hogs eat it greedily and they can be
turned on it at will and there will be
no danger Of their eating too much.
However. If sheep or calves are pas
tured, care should be taken to feed
them some hay first as there will be
some danger of bloat.
The South Carolina Experiment
Station has obtained as much as 25
tons of forage from this plant. Rape
requires rich soil and while it will
grow on almost any type of soil, it is
highly necessary that the soil is
made rich by heavy applications of
we'll decOmposed stable manure and
large applications Of commercial fer
tilizers. Any land that Is well suited
to cabbage will grow rape profitably.
The seed should be sown at the rate
of or pounds per acre and care
should be taken that the seed are
not sown too deep. From one to two
inches Is the proper depth. In South
Carolina the best time to sow rape
seed Is in October, however, they can
be sown any time during the spring.
In two months after sowing the seed,
the rape will be ready for pasturing.
Rape is a splendid crop to sow af-
ter winter legume as bur clover,
crimson clover or vetch. The seed
should be sown at intervals of two
to three weeks, thus giving a continu-
Gus pasturage all during the summer
and fall months. If planted for seed.
1t should be planted in September in
rows "a inches apart, and the rape
should be cultivated during the late
summer to keep down crab grass and
other grass and weeds. and it should
not be pastured. An enormous
amount Of seed can be obtained on
one acre Of improved soil.
The greatest enemy we have In
South Carolina Is the plant louise.
At this writing the South Carolina
Experiment Station has a beautiful
patch of rape gone to seed. but the
plants are filled with thousands Of
plant lice that will cut down the yield
considerably.
Rape has never been fed with sue
cess to dairy cattle as it taints the
flavor of the milk and butter 1t is,
however, one of our best hog crops
as it is very rich in protein, in fact
almost as rich as clover hay. 1t, how
ever, cannot be depended upon to
furnish the entire feed of the hog
because it makes a soft, oily fat.
Hogs grazing on rape should, there
fore, be fed some grain which makes
| a firm meat.
Every farmer has about his feed
lot a small patch that is rich enough
To plant rape on and every farmer
| should have a small patch of rape for
| his young pigs and hogs.
PROF. ]. II. HARPER,
Director S. G. Experiment Station