128 CONTINUOUS CROPPING 



RYE AND RAPE PASTURE 



Another very good winter pasture can be made by 

 sowing 9 St. of Giant Essex rye and 3 lb. of giant rape 

 per statute acre. Here the rye will be put down in late 

 May and about a fortnight later, when it has appeared 

 above ground, the rape broadcasted, and covered in 

 with the light harrow and roller, damp weather being 

 chosen for the sowing of the rape. In cold, wet 

 districts the rape prevents the rye from getting lodged 

 in winter, and also protects it from frost. 



As before and under the conditions previously 

 mentioned, a certain amount of winter barley can be 

 substituted in place of rye. Marrow-stem or thousand- 

 headed kale may also replace part of the rape. 



A winter pasture can likewise be formed with rape 

 alone sown about mid- June, but for this crop on lea, 

 the land should be ploughed early in spring or in winter 

 if possible, and worked down to a fine tilth before the 

 seed is sown. In fact, a good tilth for any summer- 

 sown winter pasture is very desirable, and is best 

 obtained by disc-harrowing the grass-land both before 

 ploughing and after. 



Where rape is sown alone, it can be broadcasted, but 

 if it is intended to graze the crop with pigs, it is better 

 to sow the crop in rows about a foot apart. This can 

 be done by putting in the seed with a seed-barrow and 

 stopping the requisite amount of holes to ensure the 

 seed dropping out in rows 12 inches apart ; or the seed 

 can be first broadcasted and, when the crop is in 

 rough leaf, the cultivator run through, leaving it 

 in rows, or the Planet junior single row drill can be 

 used. 



One advantage of sowing in rows is that whilst 

 grazing, pigs will not unduly trample the land. They 

 will always walk in the rows and eat from each side. 



