TIME OF SOWING EARLY GROWTH. 357 



its failure would probably occasion considerable incon- 

 venience or loss to the farmer, by depriving him of his 

 expected keep at a very critical period of the year. 



Rape, like kohl-rabi, may be raised in a seed-bed, and 

 transplanted to the field. This practice has its advan- 

 tages and its disadvantages, though the former are not so 

 great as with the kohl-rabi, cabbage, and slower-growing 

 plants, while the latter remain the same. Therefore, 

 although the practice, which is general in Belgium and 

 the Rhenish provinces, still is to be met with in this coun- 

 try, it is rarely followed on any scale, the common method 

 of sowing in the field being fully as productive, and 

 effected with less labour and less expense. 



The germination and early growth of the plant is ex- 

 actly the same as with the turnip ; and as it is sown about 

 the same period, it is liable to the same injuries from the 

 "fly," which frequently clears off the entire crop. The 

 great object, therefore, is to secure those conditions in the 

 soil, at the period of sowing, which we know will assist 

 and expedite the early growth of the plant, so as to force 

 it as rapidly as possible through this critical period of its 

 career. The same care should therefore be bestowed 

 upon the seed-bed, as regards fineness of tilth and pre- 

 sence of fertilizing substances, as has been recommended, 

 p. 293, in the preparations for turnip-sowing. If these have 

 not been neglected, and good fresh seed has been used, 

 the chances are greatly in favour of the plant speedily 

 getting ahead of its enemy, and thus keeping its place as 

 a crop on the farm. When the "fly" is very troublesome, 

 the remedy recommended by Mr. Fisher Hobbs, p. 323, 

 will be found to be equally efficient as with the young 

 turnip plants; this and all similar preparations, it must 

 be recollected, should be applied very early in the morn- 

 ing, while the dew is on the leaves, otherwise its effect 

 is greatly diminished. 



