150 SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



detriment to the crop. A light harrow should be 

 used, and the harrowing must not be deferred until 

 the young weeds get a firm hold upon the soil. 



When the crop is sown in rows, the cultivation 

 should begin as soon as the young plants can be dis- 

 tinctly traced along the line of the row. It should 

 be shallow and as frequent as once a week or once 

 in two weeks, until the tops of the plants have so 

 reached out as to preclude further cultivation. The 

 harrow may also be used with advantage in some 

 instances on a rape crop sown in drills and on the 

 level. When so used it should be draAvn across the 

 rows and prior to the cultivation ordinarily given. 

 The effect will be to take out myriads of weeds along 

 the line of the row that would otherwise be undis- 

 turbed. The plants will be somewhat thinned, but 

 this should not result in the injury of the crop. It 

 is not usual to hand hoe rape, not even along the line 

 of the row or to thin it, but if so treated the plants 

 will grow all the stronger. Whether the labor 

 would give an adequate return will depend upon 

 conditions. When the cleaning of the land is one of 

 the chief objects sought in growing rape some hand 

 hoeing should be found profitable. 



Feeding. — The cutting and feeding of rape 

 plants may be commenced as soon as they have made 

 sufficient growth to justify such a course. More 

 especially is this true of rape that is to be fed to 

 swine in the absence of other green food. It may 

 be cut and fed thus when not more than one foot 

 high. If not cut too near the ground, it will grow 

 up a second and even a third time. If mowed 

 closely, however, the growth will be much weakened. 



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