45 



Circular No. 12. -(Agros. 44.) 



%^'^^i 



(Issued May 5, 1809.) 



.R KO. 1^. -(Agros. 44.) ■^ A 47/ ussucu .uay 



United States Department (^Agmfuljure, 



DIVISION OF AGROSTOLOGi 

 [Grass and Forage Plant Invesiigation.] 



RAPE AS A FORAGE PLANT. ^/> 



Tliroiigliout a large portion of the United States farmers and st«^- 

 raisers could advantageously grow more of the succulent forage 

 crops for feeding stock during the summer and autumn months, when 

 the suppl}' of grasses and clovers is often limited. Such crops may 

 usually be grown on land that has already produced an early matur- 



FiG. 1.— Rape, {frown at Mellette, South Dakota. 



ing crop of some sort, such as oats, rye, or winter wheat. One of 



the best of these succulent crops is rape {Brassica napus Linn.), a 



plant closely related to cabbage, turnips, and several other garden 



and field crops. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Rape is much like the Swedish turnip or rutabaga in H})pearance, 

 but the root is more like that of cabbage. The leaves are large, 

 glaucous, smooth, spreading, and variously notched and divided ; the 

 Howers are bright yellow, nearly one-half inch in diameter; the 

 seeds are produced in pods usually 2 inches or more long. 



