SILAGE AND FOEAGE CROPS. 235 



lected plants make a vigorous growth annually al- 

 though growing ia a thick blue grass sod. 



Farm animals usually do not like the plant, rarely 

 eating it voluntarily until accustomed to its use by hav- 

 ing it mixed with other food. It is believed there 

 are more valuable plants for cultivation by farmers in 

 this country. It is not suited for pasturage and not 

 especially for ensilage. 



It is readily grown from small slips from the 

 roots. These may be planted in rows far enough 

 apart to permit cultivation, for the first year, at least. 



Rape. — Rape {Brasslca napus) is a plant of the 

 turnip kind, but has not the enlarged root of the 

 edible turnips, and is grown for its seeds and stalk 

 and leaves. It is prized in parts of Great Britain 

 and the continent of Europe, and is well spoken of 

 in reports from the Ontario Agricultural College. It 

 has been tried to a limited extent in the United 

 States but has not come into practical culture. It 

 is, probably, much better adapted to a cool and moist 

 climate than to one with hot and dry summers. It 

 grows rapidly, can be sown in the very late spring 

 or early summer, either broadcast or, better, in drill 

 rows and cultivated. The crop can be cut and fed at 

 the stables or used for the pasturage of sheep or 

 calves. Cattle like it well but injure the crop by 

 trampling it. The crop is not injured by moderate 

 frosts. It seems worthy of further trial, especially 

 iu the more northern states. 



