RAPE AND CABBAGE. 157 



barley crop, that the rape will grow so vigorously in 

 the barley as to interfere with the harvesting of the 

 same. This seldom happens with any of the other 

 kinds of grain, and it does not happen very often 

 with the barley crop. But it may be prevented by 

 sowing the rape seed one or two weeks after the bar-- 

 ley is sown. The objection to sowing it thus arises 

 from the fact that it is likely to go unharrowed. If, 

 however, the rape seed is sown just when the first 

 blades of barley begin to appear, a light harrow with 

 the teeth slanting backward may be used (but not 

 always), with decided advantage to the rape and also 

 to the barley. 



In an average season and on good soils, no 

 easier method of sowing rape for pasture can be 

 adopted. But there is not the same certainty that 

 pasture will be obtained as when the rape is the sole 

 crop grown on the land. Sometimes an excellent 

 crop of fall pasture will result and at other times 

 there will be little or none. It would not be wise 

 to sow rape thus on hard or infertile land. 



Cultivation. — When rape is sown broadcast, no 

 cultivation other than harrowing can be given to it. 

 It is a hardy plant, and if sown thickly enough to 

 allow for a small proportion of the plants being torn 

 out, it may be harrowed under some conditions with 

 positive advantage. But it is not usual to harrow 

 rape that has been broadcasted. 



If rape is sown in drills, the cultivation should 

 begin as soon as the plants are easily traced in the 

 line of the row. The cultivator should run near the 

 plants, especially at first, but not so as to bury 

 any considerable number of them. Shallow but 

 thorough cultivation should follow at intervals, until 



