The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-15

prepared by the United states Depalt
ment Of Agricultural
Because it is a useful crop for both
his stock and his own family. the
farmer will find that 1t will pay him
to give more attention to rape than 1t
usually receives. AS human FOOD,
when it is often known as smooth or
spring kale, it Is quite as good as
kale or collards and may be prepared
in the same way. AS a feed for hogs.
sheep, cows and chickens, 1t Is the
most important plant Of the cabbage
family. The seed is also cheap. re-
failing usually at about ten cents
pound.
The most common use Of rape Is as
pasture crop for hogs or sheep.
Many animals do not like rape at first.
but will eat it readily after they have
acquired the taste. A liberal supply
of salt will tend to prevent the purging
which rape often produces. With hogs
there is no danger from bloating. With
cattle, however, this danger does ex-
list to some extent and 1t is well, there
fore, to avoid pasturing them on pure
rape. II a supply Of hay or straw
is kept convenient, the animals will
instinctively turn to that when they
begin to bloat, and when cattle can
pass readily from rape to grass pas
ture, cases of bloating are rare. Un-
der any circumstances, however, cattle
should not be turned into a rape pas
ture when it is wet with dew or rain.
or when they are very hungry.
Cattle eat rape readily but destroy
considerable by trampling, especially
where the rape is broadcasted. In
broad rows the damage is less, for the
animals usually walk between the
rows. When cut and stall fed. rape
should be given to dairy cows just
after milking; otherwise it may talnt
the milk.
As a feed for all kinds of poultry
rape is also excellent.
Time of Seeding.
Rape Is a cool-season crop, and In
the South should. therefore, be planted
in the fall or in very early spring. The
crop is not injured by ordinary win
tiers in the South, but of course the
growth is slow in cold weather. In
the fall it is best seeded from August
Is to October Is. Later seeding is
scarcely advisable. except near the
Gulf coast and in Florida. In the
spring 1t should be seeded Just as
early as danger Of freezes is past. The
earlier seedlings nearly always give
the largest yields. as growth is
checked when very warm weather oc
ours. In summer the plant becomes
much less palatable.
Practically only one variety-the
dwarf Essex-is grown in the United
States.
Rape is a succulent, nutritious plan,
closely related to kale. collards and
cabbage, and requires essentially the
same conditions of culture as these
crops. The plants grow to a height
Of ~ to four feet. depending on con
ditions of soil and climate.
Rape succeeds best in rich loan
soils, but profitable crops are grown
on sandy and on clayey soils. Al
abundant moisture supply is necessary
to produce large yields. Good prepare
ton of the seed bed is advisable. Barn
yard manure is the best fertilizer. II
the absence of this. 400 to 600 pounds
per acre Of a complete Commercial
fertilizer may be used.
When rape is planted in wide rows
1t should be given three or four cul
tivations during its early growth
After cutting the first crop a secont
growth is often obtained. especially
II the stubble Is cultivated.
Method Of Seeding.
Rape may be sown in cultivate,
rows. in narrow drill rows. or broad
casted. II planted in rows these shoult
ordinarily be "a to 30 inches apart
In rows % inches wide, which is tn,
best width, two pounds of seed De
acre are sufficient.
II drilled with q grain drill fou
pounds Of seed per acre are required
When broadcasted five or six pound
per acre should be used.
Rape may be successfully grow,
with certain other crops. Thus 1t ma
be sovn in early spring in oats, wheat
or re. and usually good stand 1
secured after the grain crop is Gu,
1t may also be sown mixed with Gle
yer, to be used as pastsre. or betwee
the rows in some .sinter-killed GRO
for late fall pasture.