AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 205 



a cultivator, but, if the land is free from weeds, large crops may 

 be raised by broad-casting. If drilled, 2 Ibs. of seed to the 

 acre will suffice. It weighs about 53 Ibs. to the imperial bushel. 

 The cake in London, sells for about $25 a ton, being one half 

 the value of Linseed cake. In 1846, the Patent Office distri 

 buted the seed, and recommended its culture as an oil plant; 

 but we are not aware that it has yet been generally introduced, 

 As sheep-feed, in our large prairie country, south of Michigan, 

 it is deserving of much attention, to take the place of grass in 

 the fall. (See Patent Office Report, 1846, pp. 314, 400.; 



In the same work for 1850, p. 190. J. E. Dodge, of Erie, Penn., thui 

 writes : &quot; I have cultivated Rape for several years, and find it rery pro 

 fitable. The soil for growing Rape on should be rich and clean. A 

 thorough old-fashioned summer fallow is probably the best for the Rape 

 crop. It should be sown the last of August, 3 pints of seed to tb 

 acre. It will be ready to cut in the last of June or first of July. We 

 cut it with large reaping hooks, and lay it in small bunches to dry, for 

 e ght or ten days. Then, with a large cloth spread over the hay-ladder, 

 we proceed to haul in, and thrash with a flail immediately. The greater 

 portion of the chaff is to be raked off. and the remainder left, with the 

 seed, one or two weeks on the barn-floor to dry. It will produce from 

 30 to 50 bushels per acre. It i worth $1.00 per bushel in Erie.&quot; 



It is understood, however, that the crop is occasionally injured 

 by frosts, if uncovered by snow, in this latitude. As a green 

 manure, to be eaten by sheep, and the roots plowed under, it is 

 considered essentially valuable, and may profitably take the 

 place of an occasional clover crop in wheat culture. 



457. We have been unable to meet with trustworthy analyses 

 of this plant; but in its general character it resembles the rest 

 of its family. 



458. Inorganic analysis of Rape (Rammehburg) 100 parts 

 of seed gave of ash 4.54, of straw, 5.21. 



Seed. Straw. 



Potash, .... 25.18 8.13 



Soda, - - 19.82 



Lime, . . - 13.91 gO.05 



