288 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Another plan is to sow broadcast by hand or with a grass seeder just in 

 front of the grain drill. This will insure a good covering of the seed and 

 will in all likelihood give the rape a strong start. The only objection to 

 either of these methods is that in case the season should be wet there is 

 a little danger that the rape will outgrow the cereal and thus interfere 

 with harvest operations. However, this rank growth occurs so seldom 

 that it is hardly necessary to take any precaution to prevent its occur- 

 rence. On rich soil splendid results are obtained when the rape is sown 

 ten days or two weeks after the cereal crop, and covered by the use of & 

 light harrow or a weeder. We say a "light" harrow because experience 

 has demonstrated that unless the soil is very firm the harrow will tear 

 out rather too much of the grain crop, although we have frequently seen 

 this method recommended without any qualification. 



If a stand of rape is secured it is never advisable to pasture too early 

 after the removal of the crop. The returns will be much larger at the 

 plants are allowed to get up six or eight inches before stock is turned on. 

 This affords opportunity for the establishment of a vigorous root system 

 so that close cropping will not be such a serious setback to the crop. 

 When handled properly we have known cases where rape seeded in the 

 above manner yielded as high as eighteen tons per acre by the end of 

 October. In most instances the amount of pasture produced will run over 

 ten tons per acre if the seed bed has been properly prepared in the spring. 

 Although this may seem to be somewhat exhaustive of fertility yet lands 

 that have been handled in this way generally prove to be very productive 

 the following year. The rape roots lock up food materials that would 

 otherwise be lost, and in turn by their decay liberate plant food for the 

 following crop. Even should the rape not be used by stock but simply 

 plowed under the soil would be much benefited by its growth. 



RAPE IN FEED YARDS AGAIN. 



Homestead. 

 A subscriber from Mediapolis, Iowa, sends the following inquiry: 

 "I have two feed lots each containing two acres. One was seeded 

 to rye last fall, while the other is simply growing up with weedle. I 

 expect to raise fifty or sixty pigs this summer and have no feed for them, 

 and would therefore like to sow one lot with rape, but know nothing 

 about the crop. Please inform me how to sow it to get the best results." 

 The above question is specified and we take pleasure in giving a spe- 

 cific answer. Besides we are always pleased to champion the cause of 

 this most wonderful plant, rape. The yard that has not been seeded to 

 rye should be disced up just as early in the spring as the soil will work 

 nicely without puddling. After getting the surface in good condition sow 

 about four or five pounds of rape seed per acre broadcast and cover well 

 by the use of the harrow. If these instructions are carried out there will 



