420 t FIELD CROPS 



RAPE AND KALE 



547. Description. Rape, Brassica napus, is a quick- 

 growing, leafy plant with stems from 2 to 4 feet tall. The 

 leaves grow along the stem instead of from the crown as in 

 many of the other plants of this genus. The variety which 

 is commonly grown in this country is the Dwarf Essex, a 

 biennial type which produces seed only where the plants will 

 survive the winter. Where it does produce seed, however, 

 the yield is heavy, so that the seed is cheap, and as only 3 to 

 5 pounds are required to the acre, the expense of seeding is 

 small. Kale, or headless cabbage, one of the numerous 

 forms of Brassica oleracea, grows in much the same form as 

 rape, but has larger leaves and produces heavier yields of 

 forage. It is grown as a forage crop only in the mild climate 

 of western Oregon and western Washington. 



548. Culture. Rape grows best on rich, moist loam soils. 

 Its growth is rapid, hence it is often sown broadcast, as it is 

 able to compete successfully with weeds. Larger yields are 

 obtained, however, if it is sown in drills from 28 to 36 inches 

 apart and given frequent cultivation while the plants are 

 small. As the plant is a gross feeder, it can use large quan- 

 tities of stable manure or other fertilizers. The yields from 

 poor soil are apt to be disappointing, but the quantity of 

 forage produced on rich soil is remarkable. Rape may be 

 sown alone at any time during the spring or early summer 

 months, or with oats or other grain in the spring. When 

 sown with grain, not more than 1 or 2 pounds of rape seed to 

 the acre should be used. The rape usually grows slowly till 

 the grain crop is removed, when it starts into rapid growth 

 and supplies abundant forage. In wet seasons on rich soil, 

 it sometimes makes such rapid growth that much of it is 

 harvested in the butts of the grain bundles, thus interfering 



