GROWING CROPS FOR SUCCULENCE 65 



their work well, it is because their owners have 

 given them too little attention. To merit praise 

 they must give much grazing and constant graz- 

 ing; all of which applies to the permanent pasture. 

 The temporary pasture occurs only as a feature of 

 short rotations, as when grain crops are raised. 

 It is really an incident rather than a first considera- 

 tion; being such, you do not expect the highest 

 development of grass and turf, both of which are 

 basic features of the permanent pasture. 



RAPE FOR SUPPLEMENTING PASTURES 



On the other hand, the poor pasture field may be 

 supported by the use of supplementary crops, fore- 

 most among which is rape — an admirable food for 

 sheep and swine and valuable for cattle also. Rape 

 is a sort of cabbage, and instead of storing its 

 nutriment in the head as the cabbage does, the rape 

 plant distributes its nutriment throughout the 

 leaves. It fancies most the moist, cool places and 

 a rather fertile soil. When so favored it really 

 gives a very large amount of food. It is sufficiently 

 rich in nutriment to maintain all body needs, but is 

 not quite able of itself to make large gains of growth 

 or fat. When supplemented with grain, it becomes 

 a very satisfactory green fodder crop. 



You can sow rape any time between March and 

 July, either broadcast or in drills 3 feet apart, using 

 3 or 4 pounds of seed an acre and slightly cover- 

 ing it. When grazed down, remove your stock 

 and allow time enough for a second crop. 



Within recent years the use of soiling crops has 

 increased. The unsatisfactory results from pas- 



