Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-07-27
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j. CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK ;;
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.l' Article XVI. 4
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Article XVI.
Rape.

Rape.
Rape was first introduced into this
country from England, where it has
Deen grown for hundreds OF years.
On rlch land 1T Is one Of our best
.soiilnS crops for hogs and sheep. 1t
belongs to the cabbage family, and
the leaves resemble those Of the
mustard family. There are several
varieties, but the best variety Is the
dwarf Essex rape, which Is a bien-
mar There are number of varie-
ties, but these are Of little value. If
d~arf Essex rape Is planted any
time during the summer or fall, it
VIII afford pasturage all during the
winter and will mature it's seed the
Following June. When grown on
rlch land two or three cuttings can
be obtained. However, the best way
TO handle rape Is to plant it for
paSturing purposes. Hogs eat it
greedily, and they can be turned on
IL at VIII and there will be no dan
ger or their eating too much. How
ever If sheep or calves are pastur-
ed' care should be taken to feed
,hem some hay first, as there will
De some danger OF bloat.
The South Carolina Experimont
TONS or forage from this plant. Rape
requires a rich soil, and while It
VIII grow on almost any tyne of
SOIL, 1T is highly necessary that the
soil be made rich by heavy applica-
ions OF we'll decomposed stable
manure and large applications OF
commercial fertilizers. Any lanI
that is well suited to cabbage will
grow rape profitably. The seed
should be sown at the rate of 3 or
pounds per acre, and care should
De taken that the seed are not sown
100 deep. From one to two inches
Is the proper depth. In South Car
ollna 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 splendid crop to SOW
alter a winter legume, such as bur
clover, crimson clover or vetch. The
seed should be sown at intervals of
TWO or three weeks, thus giving a
continuous pasturage all during the
summer and fall months. If plant
ea Tor seed, 1t should be planted in
september in rows "a inches apart,
and the rape should be cultivated
Ni'N lttt summer 10 keen
down crab grass and other grass
and weeds, and 1t should not be pas
tured. An enormous amount of seed
can be obtained on one acre Of i'm
proved soil. "
The greatest enemy we have i'm
south Carolina is the plant louise.
at this writing the South Carolina
EXPERIMENT Station has 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 1t Is very rich in protein :;
III fact, almost as rich as clover hay.
II, however, cannot be depcnded
upon to furnish the entire feed of
me hoe because ii makes a soft. oily
rat. Hogs grazing on rape should,
therefore, 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 4 small patch Of rapc
Tor his Young pigs and hogs.
j. II. Harper,
Director 81 G. Experiment Station.