The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-07-28
Clemson Extension Work-Rape.

Rape was first introduced into this
country from England, where it has
been grown for hundred of years.
On rich land it is one of the best
soiling crops for hogs and sheep.
It belongs to the cabbage family and
the leaves resemble those of the mus
tard family. There are several varie-
ties, but the best variety is the
Dwarf Essex rape, which is a blen-
NAL. There are a number of varie-
ties, but these are of little value. II
Dwarf Essex rape is planted any
time during the summer or fall, 1t
will afford pasturage all during the
winter and will mature it's seed the
following June. When grown on
rich land two or three cuttings can
be obtained. However, the best way
to handle rape is to plant it for pas
turing purposes. Hogs eat it gree
Oily and they can be turned on it at
will and there will be no danger OF
their eating too much. However, II
sheep or calves are pastured, care
should be taken to feed them some
hay first as there will be some dan
ger of bloat.
The South Carolina experiment
station has obtained as much as 20
tons of forage from this plant. Rape
REQUIRES a rich soil and while it will
grown on almost any type of soil, it is
highly necessary that the soil is made
rich by heavy applications OF well
decomposed stable manure and large
applications of commercial fertill-
zers. Any land that is we'll suited to
cabbage will grow rape rapidly. The
seed should be sown at the rate OF
8 to 4 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 al
ter winter legume as bur clover,
crimson clover or vetch. The seed
should be sown at intervals of two to
three weeks, thus giving contlnu-
GUS pasturage all during the sum-
mer and fall months. If planted
for seed, it 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
enormoussamount of seed can be OBJ
tanned on one acre of improved soil.
The greatest enemy we have IN
South Carolina is the plant louse
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 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 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. J. H. HARPER,
Director S. G.. Experiment Sta
Director South Carolina Expert
ment Station.