390 



KOHLRABI 



KOHLRABI 



Carter's Model , 

 White Vienna , 

 Goliath . . . . 



have some form of succulent food, especially in the 

 winter, and kohlrabi is one means of supplying this 

 need. 



The American farmer has an 

 antipathy for that kind of labor ^"^^^^^^^^ 

 which brings into action and 



strain the muscles of the back. 



For this reason, the tendency to 

 grow kohlrabi for stock-feeding 

 where corn and some of the 

 roots can be grown is not 



strong. However, kohlrabi does 



fit into into a cropping system 



for this purpose very admirably where it may be 



grown also for market purposes. If our system 



of agriculture becomes more intensive, perhaps 



kohlrabi will find a more welcome place in the 



rotation. 



Composition and yield. 



The composition of kohlrabi is very much the 

 same as that of mangels, as shown by the following 

 table compiled from results of analyses in Norway, 

 where these plants are grown extensively for 

 stock-feeding : 



mainly for table use. The three varieties grown 

 recently at the Cornell station for stock-feeding 

 have given the following statistical results : 



No. of seeds 

 per lb. 



129,200 

 113,700 



Yield per acre 



Tons 

 23.0 

 21.6 

 18.1 



Yield dry 

 matter per acre 



Tons 

 2.10 

 2.40 

 1.61 



Dry matter 



Per cent 



9.13 



11.10 



8.91 



Yield per acre : kohlrabi, 18.43 tons ; mangels, 25.914 tons, 



It will be noticed that the kohlrabi is deficient 

 in two essential matters, namely, yield per acre 

 and dry matter content. Both of these are serious 

 defects, as they embody the main qualities for 

 which any forage crop may be grown. Dry matter 

 content is the most important consideration, yet in 

 kohlrabi this is above the general average of the 

 production of dry matter in corn in the New Eng- 

 land states. At the Cornell station, several varie- 

 ties of kohlrabi for three years yielded a minimum 

 of 3,570 pounds of dry matter per acre, a maxi- 

 mum of 4,540 pounds, and an average of 4,040 

 pounds. The yield of grain from flint corn in the 

 same seasons was about two thousand pounds per 

 acre, while the yield of dry matter in silage from 

 dent corn was about four thousand pounds per 

 acre. Thus it is seen that the yields are satis- 

 factory, but the principal drawback remains in 

 the large amount of hand labor required in its 

 production. 



Varieties. 



Not many varieties of tUis crop have been de- 

 veloped, and those which have been grown are 



Other varieties which have given good results 

 in Canada are Purple Vienna and Short-top White. 



Cultural methods. 



Soil. — Kohlrabi will grow and develop on a great 

 variety of soils and under varying conditions of 

 rainfall. In general, however, loams with a good 

 supply of organic matter and good drainage, insur- 

 ing a constant supply of moisture, are best adapted. 

 In 1905, at Cornell, a rather stiff clay produced 

 21.5 to 23.7 tons per acre for difl'erent varieties. 

 Especially essential is a well-prepared seed-bed in 

 order that germination may be 

 quick and uniform, and that the 

 plants may be invigorated by a 

 good supply of moisture and 

 plant-food. 



Seeding, — Good seed is of 

 prime importance. At present 

 most of the seed is imported at 

 a cost of about two dollars per 

 pound, while in England it sells 

 for one-half to one-fourth that 

 price. A germination test 

 should be made early in the 

 season. The seed is sown at the 

 rate of four or five pounds per 

 acre. 

 Early sowing is necessary. In one year the three 

 varieties mentioned above were sown on May 9 and 

 again on June 14. The results were in favor of 

 early sowing by about three tons of fresh sub- 

 stance, and about one-fourth ton of dry matter per 

 acre. Kohlrabi, like its relative the cabbage, re- 

 quires a long growing period for a maximum yield, 

 though such might not be desirable when grown 

 for table use. The seed should be sown in drills 

 twenty-four to thirty-six inches apart, similar to 

 the manner of sowing turnips. Rows wide apart 

 facilitate much in the use of horse implements in 

 tillage. 



Fertilizing. — If by weakly plants or tardiness of 

 growth the food supply seems to be lacking, this 

 may be added along the row in the form of nitrate 

 of soda or guano. On most soils the plant responds 

 well to rotted manure applied before planting, or 

 to a complete fertilizer rather rich in phosphoric 

 acid and potash, at the rate of 300 to 500 pounds 

 per acre. 



Subsequent care. — It is during the early stages 

 of growth that most labor and care must be 

 expended on the crop. When well up, the plants 



