'rape seed. 



409 



manured ground, and if possible during wet weather. This is the 

 seed-bed for the future plant. It should be sown as turnip or cabbage 

 seed is sown, when it is intended to transplant the young plants. In 

 the months of September, October, and November, the plants are 

 taken from the seed-bed, and transplanted for the future crop. The 

 field is richly manured with farmyard dung, spread broadcast on the 

 land, and ploughed in. The previous crop is usually wheat. 



The plants are then set out in rows about 2 feet distant from 

 each other, and each plant 18 inches apart. In good soil, as, for 

 instance, land partly broken up from old pasture, or from wood, the 

 crop will be much heavier, and ripen more equally, if planted at a 

 greater distance. It is usually planted in every alternate furrow, 

 but the manure plough is expressly constructed for breadth of furrow. 

 The plant is exceedingly robust, and soon recovers itself after trans- 

 planting. It thus remains permanently planted out until the month 

 of February, when the horse-hoe is set to work to pulverize the soil 

 after the frosts. Good careful farmers then add some artificial 

 manure to encourage the growth of the plant. The manure generally 

 employed is guano or rape dust, and the rape cake, which proceeds 

 from the manufacture of the oil. Eape cake, indeed, is one of the 

 very best stimulants that the plant can receive. After this spring 

 manuring, the double mould-board plough passes between the drills, 

 so as to throw the earth well up to the stalks of the plants. 



There is another method, which is, to sow as the Scotch farmers do 

 turnips. Sow in drills (manure in the drills), apply guano or bone 

 dust, or rape dust in spring, and in damp weather. 



Do not transplant at all, but thin out, and cultivate as for Swede 

 turnip seed. I believe the crop would be as heavy, and the expense 

 diminished one half, especially when labour is dear or scarce. The 

 after management of the colza seed is not difficult, but requires 

 attention. The seed, when fresh harvested, is apt to sweat and heat. 

 For this reason, careful farmers who wish to preserve the colour and 

 strength of the sample, generally stow the seed away with a sufficient 

 quantity of the seed-pod or husk. These substances mixed through 

 the heap, prevent its taking heat. The bulk must, nevertheless, be 

 repeatedly turned over, and the granary kept aired. The yield of 

 oil, which is the ultimate and real test of the value of the crop, 

 varies exceedingly. This variation is not so much to be attributed 

 to the variety of grain as to the nature of the soil, the geniality of 

 the season, and the care bestowed on the culture of the plant. 



Nothing more is done till harvest, which occurs towards the 

 middle of J uly. The chief enemy of the rape-seed crop is hail ; the 

 heavy rains of July are also often prejudicial. As soon as the 

 straw and seed-pod become yellow, the crop is ready to cut. This 

 is done by the sickle, and the reapers place the crop as it is cut 

 across the ridges, so as to leave the air to circulate as much as 

 possible. In from six to ten days the crop is ready for the flail. It 

 is a seed that sheds itself with great ease, and must be handled 

 tenderly, or much seed will be lost. The crop is threshed in the field, 

 A large space is cleared, and a sail-cloth spread on the ground. A 

 light species of hand-barrow or cradle is constructed, and lined with 



