RAPE. 



prepared by digging or trenching with ' should be made with a narrow hoe 

 the spade in a good lo.iniy soil, nei- ' of sulficient dc|jth to allow tin; plant 

 tlicr too sandy nor too wet. A large to be placed in it, and another hoe 

 proportion of rotten dung is spread ! should foUow to draw the earth to 

 evenly over it, and dug in si.v inches ! the plant. Thus, two men witli hoes. 



deep, and the surface is raked fine 

 The seed is sowed broad-cast or in 

 drill ; the latter is the best method : 



and one woman, will plant a row more 

 rapidly than could be done in any oth- 

 er way. The man who tills up the 



it is then slightly covered with the , holes places his foot by the side of 

 rake ; and if the ground will allow , each i)Iant as he goes on, to press 

 of It, without risk of its l)cing bound the earth to the roots. 



too hard in case of dry weallier, it is 

 well rolled or trodden with the feet 



'• An expeditious mode of planting 

 rape is used in Flanders. A spade 



The seed must not be sowed too , ten inches wide is pushed vertically 

 thick; and the plants, as soon as I into the ground, and, by drawing the 

 they have six leaves, must be thin- handle towards his body, the labour 



ned to a distance of hnn or live incli 

 es in the rows, whicli wdl make them 

 stronger and belter furnished with 

 roots. One acre of seed-bed will fur- 

 nish plants for ten acres or more. 

 The seed is sowed in July or August, 

 that the plants may not run to seed 



er makes a wedge-like opening ; a 

 woman inserts a plant in each side 

 of this opening, and when the man 

 removes the spade the earth falls 

 back against the plants. The wom- 

 an puts her foot between the two 

 plants, and they are then fixed in 



the same year, which they are apt to ; their places. In this operation the 

 do if sowed early ; and they are trans- j man moves backward ; and the worn- 

 planted in September or October, on an, who puts in the plants, forward, 

 land which has already borne a prof- | Instead of the spade, an instrument 

 itable crop. As this crop is a substi- ; is also used called a plantoir. It con- 



tute for a fallow on rich, heavy land, 

 too much pains cannot be taken to 



sists of two sharp-pointed stakes, a 

 foot or more apart, connected by a 



keep it free from weeds. Winter | cross-handle at top, and a bar at about 

 barley and rye, which are reaped | eight or ten inches from the points, 

 early in July, are very proper crops , This instrument is pressed into the 

 to be succeeded by rape or colza, j ground by the handles, assisted by 

 The stubble should be ploughed two , the foot placed on the lower bar, and 

 or three times, to pulverize and clean : makes two holes, a foot apart, into 

 it. A good coat of rotten dung should ' which the plants are placed, and 

 be put on, and the land ploughed in '■ earthed round as before. This is 

 ridges, as for turnips. The plants I done when the land has not been laid 

 should be put in on the ridges ten ' up into high ridges, 

 inches apart. It requires great care, | " When a large field is to be plant- 

 in taking them up, not to break the I ed, a more expeditious models adopt- 

 fibres of the roots ; they should be ed ; and this is the most usual prac- 

 raised with a fork, and placed gently, j tice in Holland and Germany. The 

 with the fine earth adhering to them. : land having been prepared, and the 

 in flat baskets, and in a slanting posi- manure well incorpora.ted, a deep fur- 

 tion, so that the tops may be upward. ; row is drawn with the plough ; wom- 

 In planting, the holes should be made ; en follow with baskets of plants, 

 with a large, thick dibble, that the '• which they set, a foot apart, slanting 

 plants may be introduced without against the furrow slice. When the 

 doubling up the principal roots or ' plough returns, the earth is thrown 

 breaking the fibres. The earth should against these plants, and a man or 

 be pressed to the root by a short dib- \ woman follows, who, with the foot, 

 ble, inserted to the right or left of the presses the earth down upon the 

 hole made by the first dibble ; or, roots. Sometimes plants are put 

 which is better la stiff soils, a hole i into each furrow, which is then teo 



651 



