CHAPTER XV. 



Rape for Fodder. 



F"idrn*'of **"* Dwarf Essex Rape is a succulent fodder plant 

 Rape. that should be grown more extensively in this 



country than it is, as it grows luxuriantly and is of 

 great value for fodder. An ordinary crop will yield 

 over twenty tons per acre of a most nutritious food. 

 By sowing, say, half an acre or more early in May, it 

 will be ready in July for the lambs at weaning time, 

 and also for young growing pigs, and can either be 

 fed on the land or hauled to the stables. The 

 general crop should be sown from the 20th of June 

 to the 1st of July. The same preparation of the soil 

 is required as that necessary for a root crop. Rape 

 grows to the greatest perfection when sown in drills 

 the same as turnips. The drills should be twenty- 

 five inches apart. Two pounds of seed per acre will 

 be found sufficient. The cultivation is similar to 

 that of turnips, excepting that hand-hoeing is not 

 necessary. Rape can be grown successfully as a 

 catch crop after early potatoes or grain are harvested. 

 All animals do well when fed a daily ration of rape 

 during the fall, but it is objected to for milch cows 

 because of the taint given the milk. In order to 

 keep rape for early winter feeding it should be cut 

 about the 20th of November with an ordinary 

 scythe and forked into small heaps, and hauled to 

 the stable as required. When frozen, leave in the 

 stable to thaw out before feeding. 



