1855. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



309 



this ? Go forth into nature's sanctuary, the 

 green woods, in the dewy morn or at evening's 

 twiliglit liour, and listen to the song of praise 

 offered by this sinless worshipper to the great 

 Creator, and if you have a true, earnest and pcr- 

 severinr/ desire in your inmost soul that you too 

 may offer, from a heart as free and joyous, a song 

 as pure and acceptable to the Infinite God as does 

 this innocent warbler, that desire will surely be 

 gratified ; if not fully granted in this life, yet it 

 tvill be hereafter. S. L. Wuite. 



Groton, May 18, 1855. 



For the New En.^land Farmer. 



THE CULTURE OP RAPE OR COLE. 



This plant, wliich belongs to the cabbage fami- 

 ly, is extensively cultivated in many parts of Eu- 

 rope, both for the seed, from Avhich an oil is ex- 

 pressed. Avhicli is used for the purpose of illumi- 

 nation, and for the succulent food which it yields 

 in great abundance, at a season when other fod- 

 der is usually scarce. Its thick leaves and stalks 

 are much relished by cows and sheep, and are 

 very nutritious. I know no reason why this 

 plant should not be extensively cultivated by our 

 milk-raisers. Indeed, it appears to l)e the very 

 article they need, upon which to feed their cows 

 in June and July, before the green corn is large 

 enough to begin to cut. The seed, if not used for 

 its oil, is probably, when ground, quite as valua- 

 ble as linseed meal for feeding cows. It is com- 

 ing into extensive use for this purpose in Germa- 

 ny and England. Large quantities are annually 

 imported into this country, at an expense of $3 

 or $4 per bushel, for feeding cage birds. 



There are two varieties of this plant. One 

 called the colra, has its leaves covered with short 

 hairs or bristles, while the leaf of the rape is 

 smooth. The rough-leaved variety is said to be 

 the most productive. The rape is a biennial plant, 

 that is, it is sown in one season, and matures its 

 seed in the following season, like winter rye and 

 wheat. It is cultivated, sovna broadcast, or in 

 drills. The latter method is decidedly the best. 

 It requires a good soil, such as would produce 

 good crops of barley or wheat. The soil must be 

 thoroughly worked and pulverized, and well ma- 

 nured with compost. Ashes is found to be an ex- 

 cellent manure for it, and very much to increase 

 its product. The seed should be sown in drills in 

 a bed, early in August. Tlie bed should bo pre- 

 pared with the spade and made rich. They should 

 not be sown too thick. Land from which barley 

 or wheat has l)een taken may be prepared by 

 thorough plowing, manuring, and harrowing to 

 receive the plants. 



The plants should be transferred from the bed 

 to the fiuld in which they are to grow, in Sep- 

 tember and October. \Vhen this crop is cultiva- 

 ted on a large scale, it is usual to make a furrow 

 with a small plow, and against the upright side 

 of the I'urrow place the plants about ten inches 

 apart, and then by a return of tlie plow throw 

 the soil again into the furrow, and then with a 

 hoe level the earth and press it against the plants 

 by the foot. They are then left until the follow- 

 ing spring, when, if the rows are sufiiciently dis- 

 tant, a plow may l^e passed between them, and 

 the weeds carefully removed by the hoe and the 



fingers, or the wheel-hoe may be used instead of 

 the plow. This will allow the rows to be placed 

 nearer to each other than when the plow is to be 

 used. 



When the crop is to be cultivated on a small 

 scale, it is usual to use a dibble or small spade. 

 This is inserted into the ground, and by bearing 

 the handle towards the body, a wedge-shaped 

 opening is made, into each end of which a plant 

 is inserted by a boy. The spade is then with- 

 drawn, and the earth is pressed around the roots 

 of the plants. The plants should be raised care- 

 fully from the bed in which they are started, by 

 a fork, and with as much dirt as possible adher- 

 ing to their roots, laid into baskets, and handled 

 with much care when they are inserted into the 

 ground. If the plants are watered with night- 

 soil steeped in water, sink drainings, or other 

 liquid manures in the spring, they will become 

 extremely luxuriant. They should be kept free 

 of weeds, and the earth frequently stirred around 

 their roots. The lower pods are apt to become 

 ripe, before those on the topmost branches. 

 When most of the pods are ripe, it should be cut 

 while the dew is on it, and laid upon sheets, or 

 upon a wagon with a tight bottom ; after lying 

 one or two days in the sun, or on the barn-lloor 

 where the air can have free access to it, it is 

 threshed, and the seed spread upon a floor and 

 frequently stirred to prevent its heating. It is 

 common in Germany to thresh it on sheets in 

 the field. Cattle and sheep are very fond of the 

 pods and small branches broken off in threshing. 



The above are the principal facts connected 

 with the culture of this plant in Europe. Expe- 

 rience will determine how far European methods 

 require to be varied to suit our climate. Who 

 will make an experiment in its culture this sea- 

 son, and report, a year from next fall, the re- 

 sults? Seed may be obtained at Wilson, Fair- 

 banks & Co.'s, Hanover Street, or at most of the 

 wholesale druggists, or at the seed stores. 



Concord. J. R. 



For the New England Farmer. 



POULTRY, &C.-NO. I. 



Mr. Editor : — I have been requested several 

 times to state how I manage laying hens when 

 shut up, and with your leave I will do so through 

 the medium of the Farmer, if you think any 

 benefit will be derived thereby. 



First, a good dry shelter or building, with a 

 southern aspect, witli yard one rod of land at 

 least for ten or twelve hens. Second, their food 

 should be corn and oats, in equal quantities, by 

 them always ; also fresh water, pulverized oyster 

 shells and gravel, where they can obtain them 

 when they require ; they should have meat three 

 times a Aveek, or l)eef scraps, that can be obtained 

 of the tallow chandler, one pound of the former 

 or half a pound of the latter, and as often should 

 have raw vegetables, such as cabbage, potatoes, 

 carrots, and grass in summer and hay in winter. 

 Third, keep no rooster. 



To obtain the greatest amount of profit from a 

 hen-yard, I am of oi>inion, from a fifteen years' 

 experience, that more eggs can be ol)tained at a 

 less relative expense from twelve hens, or a less 

 numl)er, than from a larger one, when yarded 

 together. Never winter a fowl twice, but kill 



