Pastures for Hogs. 167 



Since experience shows that for a short period rape makes a 

 splendid hog pasture, there is no reason for a lack of forage when 

 clover is winter killed, or land is pastured too heavily, because rape 

 can be sown very early or very late, thus making pastures at any 

 time of the spring, summer or fall. 



Rape is a plant of the cabbage family, closely resembling it in 

 manner of growth and character of forage. It is a rather cool weather 

 plant, and can be sown very early in spring, as soon as there is no 

 danger of a severe frost. It will endure a pretty severe frost in the 

 fall before it is injured ; in fact, it may often be used for pasture after 

 it has been partly frozen, provided stock is kept off when it is frozen. 



It is a gross feeder, and does best on very fertile or heavily ma- 

 nured soil, but does fairly well where corn and wheat thrive. It is a 

 very rapid grower, and if sown alone on good land, will be sixteen 

 to eighteen inches high in six to eight weeks. AVhen sowing rape alone, 

 it is best to have a well-prepared seed bed, well pulverized, and sown 

 in drills two and one-half feet apart and cultivate until eight inches 

 high. It may also be soAvn broadcast, and either harrowed or disked 

 into the ground. AVhen sown in drills, about two or three pounds of 

 seed per acre is sufficient, but if sown broadcast, three to five pounds, 

 and sometimes more are needed. 



At the Missouri Experiment Station, a mixture of rape and oats 

 has given one of the most productive pastures ever used. It can be 

 sown either at the same ; ime as the oats or can be sown and harrowed 

 in after the oats are up. Rape may also be sown in rye and give excel- 

 lent pasture. The DAvarP Essex variety has been giving the best re- 

 sults in this State. 



"When pasturing rape, the hogs should not be turned on until 

 the plants are tAvelve to fourteen inches or, better still, sixteen to 

 eighteen inches high. "WJien pastured before this time, the hogs pull up 

 the young plants and kill them, thus destroying the pasture. Rape 

 should not be pastured so closely that nothing except the bare stalk 

 remains. A few leaves or parts of leaves should be left to start new 

 growth. If planted in drills and cultivated after each period of 

 pasturing, three crops may be obtained from each set of plants yearly. 



Rape can be sown so as to furnish a forage at any time of the 

 growing season, and if necessary can be used as the principal pas- 

 ture for hogs. It must not, however, be pastured too closely and 

 must be given opportunity to get well started after being pastured. 

 The amount of land sown to rape need not be large, because it is 

 worthless except for pasture or soiling, and one acre will pasture 

 fifteen to twenty hogs for a period of two or three months. 



