228 THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



become dry and break off before maturity. Harvesting is done 

 sometimes with the row binder, the crop being shocked to cure, 

 or sometimes the cutting is done with the header or by hand, 

 and the heads are cured for threshing. In the latter case the 

 stalks are grazed in the field or are cut for fodder. 



301. Rape. Another forage plant, though not belonging to 

 the sorghum group, is rape. It originated in northern Europe 

 and is adapted to a cool climate and a rich, moist soil, although 



* -^ 



FIG. 109. Pigs feeding in rape 



Rape is the most valuable forage crop we have for hogs for a large part of the 

 United States, alfalfa and red clover excepted 



it withstands heat and drought almost as well as do the sor- 

 ghums and cowpeas. Rape is related to cabbage, turnips, and 

 mustard and produces a great quantity of large, succulent leaves 

 and succulent stems which are much relished by hogs, sheep, 

 and poultry. It therefore affords excellent pasturage from the 

 beginning of summer until the first hard freeze occurs. Rape 

 may be sown broadcast at the rate of three pounds of seed to 

 the acre and harrowed lightly to cover the seed. A larger 

 yield, however, will be obtained if it is sown in rows about 

 two and one-half feet apart, at the rate of one and one-half 

 pounds of seed to the acre, so that the soil may be cultivated 

 frequently. Seeding may be done as early in the spring as it is 



