HOW TO CULTIVATE WINTER GREENS 149 



clean condition. Like the different types of kales 

 mentioned above, it is more nutritious than either 

 mangels or turnips, whilst its manurial value is two 

 and-a-half times greater than either mangels and 

 turnips. All kinds of stock are fond of the crop. 



When intended for autumn or early winter use, 

 giant rape should not be sown later than, say, the 

 13thoOjj^y, and if it can be got in by the 15th of 

 ^BSHissuming that the soil and weather conditions 

 are favourable, all the better. As with most of these 

 crops, the best results can only be obtained by liberal 

 manuring. 



Liberal manuring of farmyard manure is not 

 possible in many cases under our present system of 

 farming, because of the small amount of stock carried, 

 the usual standard being the equivalent of one full- 

 grown beast to every three or four acres„ whereas by 

 growing more fodder and forage crops as has already 

 been indicated in these pages, double the quantity of 

 stock might be carried. 



Giant rape is not so hardy as any of the crops pre- 

 viously mentioned, but is hardy enough to withstand 

 any average winter, except in the northern and 

 eastern portions of these countries. The capacity of 

 winter green crops for withstanding a severe winter, 

 especially giant rape or hardy green turnips, depends 

 much on the time at which they are sown. If well 

 advanced in growth, say four feet high, they will 

 withstand a severe but not a long frost. Even a long 

 frost may not kill the crop, but cause the outer leaves 

 to wither, yet on the advent of mild weather in 

 spring, the crop makes a wonderful recovery. 



Sown about mid-August, giant rape or hardy greens 

 will be about 9 to 12 inches high by the time winter 

 sets in, and at this stage in their growth both crops 

 will withstand very severe weather. Late summer 



