ROOT CROPS AND OTHER COMPARABLE FORAGES 591 



good stand of rape is obtained, which in a few weeks after 

 harvesting the grain is ready for pasturing. At the 

 Iowa Experiment Station rape was sown with oats in 

 spring, but it grew large enough to interfere somewhat 

 with the harvesting of the oat crop. 



Sowing rape in corn at the last cultivation is frequently 

 practiced, and where there is sufficient moisture for both 

 crops, good results are obtained. 



In Oregon rape is sometimes sown in spring with red 

 clover, and the crops pastured in fall and early winter. 



707. Utilization. Rape is commonly utilized by pas- 

 turing to sheep or hogs. Cattle eat it readily, but destroy 

 a considerable proportion by trampling. The loss from 

 this cause is less where the rape is grown in rows, as the 

 animals tend to follow the rows. Animals feeding on 

 rape consume larger amounts of salt than usual, so that 

 this should be freely supplied. It seems to prevent too 

 great a purging effect which rape often produces. Most 

 animals have to acquire a taste for rape before they will 

 eat it readily. Care must be taken to avoid bloating. 



Rape may also be used as a soiling crop. If fed to 

 milch cows, it should be just after milking, as otherwise 

 it may taint the milk. At the Michigan Experiment 

 Station rape was preserved in a silo and the product was 

 readily eaten by cows. 



708. Carrying capacity of rape pastures. Under fa- 

 vorable conditions rape is ready to pasture in 8 to 10 weeks 

 after seeding. On this account it is often sown as a catch 

 crop. 



At the Ontario Agricultural College in 1890, 54 acres of 

 rape were fed upon by 537 sheep and lambs and 18 head of 

 steers for 59 days, and several acres were left unconsumed. 

 In 1891, 666 lambs fed on 40 acres for over 2 months. 



