USES OF RAPE 397 



able to compete successfully with weeds. Larger yields are 

 obtained, however, if it is sown in drills from 28 to 36 inches 

 apart and given frequent cultivation while the plants are 

 small. As the plant is a gross feeder, it can use large quan- 

 tities of stable manure or other fertilizers. The yields from 

 poor soil are likely to be disappointing, but the quantity of 

 forage produced on rich soil is remarkable. Rape may be 

 sown alone at any time during the spring or early sunmier 

 months, or with oats or other grain in the spring. When 

 sown with grain, not more than 1 or 2 pounds of rape seed to 

 the acre should be used. The rape usually grows slowly till 

 the grain crop is removed, when it starts into rapid growth 

 and supplies abundant forage. In wet seasons on rich soil, 

 it sometimes makes such rapid growth that much of it is 

 harvested in the butts of the grain bundles, thus interfering 

 with their proper curing. Sowing the rape a couple of weeks 

 later than the grain usually avoids this trouble, while the 

 rape succeeds quite as well. As it survives frost well, it 

 may be counted on for later pasture. 



640. Uses. It is customary to pasture rape, when it is 

 sown either alone or with a grain crop. Occasionally, it is 

 cut for soiUng, but it is never cured into dry fodder. It is 

 most largely used as pasture for hogs and sheep. Better 

 results are obtained if stock are pastured on only a part of the 

 field at a time, using movable fences or hurdles and changing 

 the animals to different areas as necessary. Otherwise, much 

 of the feed is wasted by the animals' tramping it into the soil. 

 Rape is a succulent, palatable feed, very similar in composi- 

 tion to the best perennial pasture crops, and as it produces a 

 large quantity of forage in a short time, it should be more 

 extensively used. Care should be taken to prevent bloating 

 when cattle or sheep are first turned on it. When sown with 

 grain crops and pastured after the grain is harvested, sheep 

 will put on flesh rapidly, as they get the benefit of the glean- 

 ings as well as the rape. 



