6 



by pressure from the seed, and the residuum, the rape-seed cake of 

 commerce, used as concentrates. Another kind is called winter rape 

 or cole seed and produces large leaves which make succulent forage. 

 One of the best forage varieties is the Dwarf Essex which is well 

 adapted to cool moist climates and loamy soils, rich in humus, although 

 it will grow in any ordinary cultivated soils that are well drained. 

 Where the winters are severe it must be sown in the spring, but on 

 the coast and in the interior valleys winter sowing is more satis- 

 factory. It will withstand about six degrees of frost without injury 

 when established, but the young growth is more tender. Even if the 

 tops are frozen the roots survive and send up new shoots and pro- 

 duce a crop. The land should be plowed deep and a thorough seed 

 bed prepared. As the yield depends upon the fertility of the soil, 

 the application of from ten to twenty tons of decomposed farm 

 manure will bring good returns. The manure is spread evenly over 

 the surface, disked into the surface soil thoroughly and then plowed 

 under. Another method where the crop is to be grown in rows is 

 to use a double mold-board plow and ridge up the land twenty-four 

 inches apart. The manure is then placed in the bottom of the fur- 

 rows, the ridges split and new ridges formed directly over the manure. 

 Where the land has been cropped to beans, sorghums, potatoes, or 

 similar crop and is already in fair tilth, the land could be ridged 

 without a preliminary plowing. The ridge method will be a saving 

 in manure and provide ample drainage. If the soils are light and 

 apt to dry but it would be best not to ridge the land. 



Three methods of seeding may be used, namely, cultivated rows, 

 in close drills, or broadcasted. The first requires two pounds of good 

 seed per acre with the rows twenty-four inches apart, the second four 

 pounds and the third, five pounds. A grain drill may be used. The 

 seed should not be covered more than one-half inch. Where con- 

 servation of moisture is necessary cultivated rows are to be preferred. 



Rape is commonly utilized by pasturing to sheep and hogs. Cattle 

 are apt to be wasteful as they destroy much of it by trampling, 

 especially when broadcasted or close-drilled. It may also be used as 

 a soiling crop and occasionally it has been put in the silo with success. 

 Like a number of other forage plants care should be taken to avoid 

 bloating. In order to prevent excessive purging salt should be sup- 

 plied freely. Animals will do better on rape if they have access to 

 some dry feed as straw, or stubble pasture. When used as a soiling 

 crop for milch cows it should be fed just after milking, as it will 

 otherwise taint the milk. The average yield of rape is about ten tons 

 of green forage per acre. Under very favorable conditions, thirty 



