RAPE 



197 



well worth any man's time to experiment a little 

 along these lines, for in most instances he will be 

 well paid for his trouble. 



When Sown with Oats the most common prac- 

 tice is to mix the rape seed in the seed box with 

 oats and drill both at the same time. About i^ 

 pounds of seed to the acre should be used. On 

 very rich soil it might not be advisable to use more 

 than I pound of seed to the acre. The rape plant 

 will make a fair growth until the oat crop is har- 

 vested, when it will grow very rapidly and furnish 

 an abundance of good pasture for sheep, hogs or 

 young cattle. When grown in the cornfield seed 

 should be sown just before the last cultivation. 

 Sow about 2,y2 pounds of seed to an acre. This 

 method is occasionally more satisfactory than to 

 sow with oats, but either method may prove very 

 profitable. 



Rape is not like clover, cowpeas, or soja beans 

 in being able to obtain its nitrogen from the air, 

 and consequently is not so valuable as a fertilizer. 

 The roots of the rape plant go down into the sub- 

 soil and in this way they bring fertility to the sur- 

 face soil. Some grow rape for this purpose alone, 

 but most people grow it for its value as a forage 

 crop. This plant is an excellent food for sheep, 

 swine, beef cattle, and when carefully fed to dairy 

 cows good results can be obtained. Those who 

 have never tried rape should sow a little and be 

 convinced that it is one of the most useful forage 

 plants the farmers can grow. 



RED CLOVER. — One of our best forage plants 

 and used for pasture, hay and soil renovation. It 

 grows in all parts of the country. Clay loam soils 

 overlying a mild clay are best for this crop. How- 



