lo March, 1909.] Rape as a Catch Crop. 151 



In this case the cleaning it gets, together with the sheep manuring, is a 

 considerable benefit. The richer the soil and the heavier the rainfall,, 

 the greater chance there will be of a fair shoot. A free soil is desirable, 

 not one that setg hard. 



About 6 lbs. of good seed, sown evenly broadcast, is an average sowing; 

 4 or 5 lbs. if the ground is fine, 7 or 8 if the ground is coarse. If 

 the soil be of an exceptionally loose nature there will be a possibility of 

 the rape seed, running in behind the harrow teeth to too great a depth; 

 in this case a strong harrowing first, then sowing, and finally a light 

 harrow would be a more correct procedure. There is, howe\-er, no hard 

 and fast rule in these matters. 



Many farmers hold that superphosphate sown with the seed through 

 the drill is of no great advantage unless it is intended to feed on through 

 the winter, the growing time being so short. Further, it is urged that 

 the fertilizer is very much against a summer crop should no rain come; 

 but if the dry weather plus the super, spoils it, it is not likely to have 

 been worth anything without the super., all the same. 



Rape as a fodder plant is at its best for feed value when it bears a 

 blue tinge on the lower leaves ; this comes in warm weather. It has then 

 a warm taste and is most fattening for sheep. With summer rape, once 

 a good plant is obtained, it is more fattening in proportion than winter 

 rape, although, of course, nothing like the quantity of growth can be 

 obtained. 



There is nothing to be gained by any mixture with rape at this time of 

 sowing, for as a general rule the ground is intended for ploughing in the 

 autumn, and no other fodder plant is so suitable and gives the same feed 

 value for sheep work in the time. 



This catch crop is the most serviceable with stud sheep breeders in 

 good rainfall areas. It is splendid to wean ram lambs on to; it also 

 serves as a hospital paddock for weak lambs that have contracted Avorms 

 (for all lambs and weaners are subject to worms in wet districts), and, 

 as stated in the January Journal, rape is the best remedy for wormy 

 lambs. A catch crop of rape is also very useful for aged stud ewes in 

 lamb or rearing lambs ; at their age they must have soft feed to do at all 

 well. 



While rape at this time of year is of great assistance in curing sick and 

 wormy weaners, and bringing weak sheep through the summer, it is not 

 a good feed from a wool-growing point of view. Apart from the fleece 

 gtetting earthy, rape grows a harsh, straight fibre. The best of merinoes, 

 showing all the characteristics of merino wool, will when put on a pad- 

 dock of rape come off after six weeks or two months with a much stronger, 

 harsher, and straighter fibre. For show merinoes it is not a success. 

 With British breeds it is not so much on account of the effect on the fibre 

 that it is disliked, although it is rather objectionable even then, but these 

 breeds allow more dust in the fleece than a merino with a fair amount of 

 yolk and density, and are then not so attractive for show purposes. 



Before sowing a catch crop a farmer should consider his chances of 

 summer rain, his intentions as to sowing the paddock with a general 

 crop, and what chances he has of getting stock to turn on, to bring him 

 in a profit for the time and outlay. 



