PLANTS OF THE BRASSICA GENUS. I45 



one cutting has been removed. When sown thus 

 late, in very many instances cultivation should be 

 given to the plants to stimulate growth. When 

 sown after any of these crops, the results will largely 

 depend on the character of the weather that follows. 

 There may be seasons when the attempt to grow rape 

 in this way will not be successful. 



Preparing the Soil. — In preparing the land for 

 rape the aim should be to secure a fine, firm and 

 moist seed bed, with as much cleanness as can be 

 attained under the circumstances. When rape is the 

 sole crop grown on the land for the season, usually 

 the above conditions can be attained, unless the crop 

 is sown very early in the season. More commonly 

 they can best be attained by plowing the land in the 

 autumn. 



The exceptions are climates with rainy winters. 

 It being more common to sow rape to provide soiling 

 food for late summer and autumn rather than for 

 early summer feeding, a sufficient interval tran- 

 spires between the opening of spring and the sowing 

 of the crop to sprout many of the weed seeds lying 

 near the. surf ace of the soil, and in time to destroy 

 them by the occasional use of the harrow. But when 

 the crop is broadcasted early in the season, as is 

 often done, the aim should be to sow it on clean 

 land. When rape follows another crop harvested 

 the same season, the interval for preparing the land 

 is too short to give opportunity to clean the same. 

 Within a few hours of the plowing of the land it 

 should be impacted with the roller, or with the roller 

 and harrow, to keep in the moisture. This should 

 never be omitted, unless when the soil is abundantly 

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