The Robesonian., 1917-09-20
AN ACRE OF RAPE AND RYE.

plement.
By c. B. WILLIAMS, Chief, Division
of Agronomy, N. c. Experiment
Station, West Raleigh.
The rape plant closely resembles
the ruta-baga during its early stages
of growth; in fact, so close is this re-
semblance that often an experienced
grower cannot distinguish between
them. It's root system, however, is
more like that of the cabbage. 1t
likes cool weather and will grow dur
ing any portion of the year after Sc
we're freezing weather is passed. 1t
will endure pretty severe cold weather
in the fall and winter without being ma
terially injured; in fact, it may be used
for pasturage after being frozen, pro-
vided stock are kept off while it is
frozen. 1t does not make much growth
during the hot, dry months of mid
summer. Under ordinary conditions
the plants will attain a height of Is
inches to 2 feet or more. The Dwarf
Essex variety Of the crop is best suit
ed for us under Southern conditions.
Possibilities Of the Crop.
Farmers are becoming more and
more interested in the production of
green crops for fail, winter and early
spring grazing. Especially is this true
of those who are engaged in the rails
ing of hogs and poultry. For winter
pasturage an acre or two of this crop
will supply many tons of nutritious
feed at the time of the year when
green feeds are scarce. It has been
fully demonstrated by repeated trials
that an acre of rape properly seed
ed on good rich land will produce as
much pork when used as hog pas
ture as the same acre of land culti-
waited in corn. The rape can be grown
much cheaper than the corn, as it
will not require any cultivation, and
the preparation of the seed-bed and
seeding will be about the same for
both. The hogs will harvest the rape
ed by the farmer himself 1t should
be remembered, however, that the
acreage of rape that can be profitably
utilized for pasturage- on the average
farm is limited, it usaully not being
more than two or three acres.
In feeding experiments at the Ala
bama Station running for lat days
(November 9-April 81 with pigs weigh
ing approximately As pounds each Fat
the beginning of the experiment, it was
found that the two lots of pigs fed
on a ration of two parts of corn and
one part of wheat shorts and allowed
the use of rape pasture during the
period, produced pork on all average
of 34.4 per cent less cost per pound,
counting the cost of providing the
rape pasture, than did another lot
! fed on the same ration and confined in
dry lots. Ia other words, the lots fat.
tened on rape pasture, supplemented
with the necessary amount OF the ra
ton of corn and wheat shorts, made
very satisfactory profit, while the lot
fattened on the ration of corn and
wheat shorts alone in dry lots afford
ed little or no profit
Soil and Its Preparation.
Rape is best adapted for growth on
a deep, rich, mellow, loamy soil that
is fairly well stored with humus. II
) does not do well on the very light
sandy or stiff clay soils because they
! are deficient in organic matter. ANY
soil that will produce wheat and corr
we'll will be found suited for the
/ growth of rape. In preparing th,
land it should be we'll broken. ther
thoroughly narrowed into a fine, clear
seed bed, as is usually done for tur
nlps Or ruta-bagas. If the land has
liberal application of manure the
previous year, so much the better
On average land it will be we'll Il
apply broadcast over the land. jus
after breaking and before narrowing
about 300 to 500 pounds per acre O
fertilizer containing 8 to 10 per cen
available phosphoric acid, to ne
cent potash, and to per cent nitro
gen.
? Seeding.
For the Coastal Plain and Piedmon
sections, the spring seeding NAV h.
made during March Or early in April
and the fall seeding any time betwee,
August 20 and October 15. In tn
mountain section the spring seedin,
VIII have to be made in April and th,
fall seeding during the latter part q
July or early in August in order I.
get best results. The rape seed ar