66 Farm Seeds 
ISBELL SEED COMPANY 
Isbell’s Fi ^ Seeds 
DWARF ESSEX RAPE in Six Weeks 
Rape is an annual forage plant of 
great value which is profitably g*-own 
wherever there is stock to be pastured. 
Under favorable circumstances, Dwarf 
Essex Rape is ready for pasture in six 
weeks from the time of sowing. One 
acre of good rape will carry a flock 
of a dozen sheep for two months. The 
Wisconsin Experiment Station found 
that an acre of rape produced as 
much gain on pigs when used as a 
pasture crop along with grain as 56 
bushels of corn would do. 
An acre of rape in this experiment 
equaled much more than an average 
acre of corn and the cost of produc¬ 
tion was much less. The cost of har¬ 
vesting was nothing as it was done by 
the pigs. More recent experiments in 
Iowa have shown rape to be the 
means of producing pork at the lowest 
cost, even less than alfalfa. Rape is 
also the forage that can be sown at 
the least cost of seed and handled 
with the least effort. 
Rape seeded in corn at the last cul¬ 
tivation furnishes one of the greatest 
money-making methods known to the 
progressive farmer today. Sow rape 
in corn at the rate of 4 lbs. per acre. 
When the corn is laid by, turn the 
pigs into the field, lib., 20c; 3 lbs., 
60c, postpaid. See Current Price List 
for quantity prices. 
Dwarf Essex Rape E.\cellent for Sheep and Hog Pasture. 
Lespedeza - Harbin Lespedeza No. 65280 
Lespedeza is a new plant in the North and so far its 
cultivation is mostly in the experimental stage. It is a 
legume that thrives on poor acid soils without lime. The 
plants are bushy and spreading, growing close to the 
ground. The leaves resemble clover but are much smaller. 
Harbin No. 65280 is the earliest and hardiest annual 
Lespedeza and takes its name from Harbin, Manchuria, 
where it was discovered by a plant explorer for the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture. It matures and reseeds itself in 
the northern states. It appears to be useful for three pur¬ 
poses: to supply pasture during July and August when 
grass pastures are dried up; as a soil builder for poor and 
worn out soils; as a protection against erosion on hilly 
fields. 
Harbin produces pasture six weeks after the seed is sown. 
It will not bloat cattle or sheep and very close pasturing 
will not hurt it. Its feeding value is nearly equal to Alfalfa 
and it is greatly relished by both cattle and sheep. Sow the 
seed very thinly in rows 2 feet apart. Plant the seed one 
inch deep about June first in the North. One pound of seed 
will plant an acre. The seed must be inoculated when 
planted for the first time. Price: Lb., $1.50, prpaid. 
Sunflower, Mammoth Russian 
The seed is highly valued by farmers and poultry breed¬ 
ers. The hens will fatten on it and lay more eggs. Single 
heads measure from 12 to 22 inches in diameter, and con¬ 
tain a lot of seed, which can be raised much cheaper than 
corn. Many farmers are now growing Sunflowers^ for en¬ 
silage. 3 lbs. per acre. Lb., 25c; 3 lbs., 65c, postpaid. 
Winter or Sand Vdch - 
The Cr«aU>«l For%tte ^ * i 
Soiling Fiant ♦• . 
Winter, or Sand Vetch 
Sand Vetch is very valuable as a winter cover crop to prevent leaching, 
and nothing equals it for orchards. Planted in the fall with rye, it de¬ 
posits great amounts of nitrogen; adds large quantities of humus to the 
soil if turned under in the spring after cattle have taken it off for early 
pasture. With one-half bushel of r 3 'e>, sow 25 to 40 lbs. per acre. 
May be planted in the spring with oats. After harvesting the oats the 
Vetch can then be pastured; then turned under as green manure. With ) 
oats sow 25 to 35 lbs. and three-fourths bushel oats per acre. 
It yields a surprising amount of feed, ten tons per acre is not unusual. 
For cutting it should be sown with oats in the spring, or with rye in the 
fall. Vetch is quite spreading and the grain furnishes support so it can be 
mowed readily. It is eagerly eaten by all kinds of stock. Dike clover, cow 
peas and alfalfa, it is a very rich fodder. When sown in April or May it ! 
can be cut in August for hay, and the second growth will provide abun- ! 
dant pasture during summer. Our seed is all Michigan grown. ! 
Inoculate Vetch \vith Nitragin—See Page 62. 
Sorghum or Sugar Cane 
Cane is a valuable crop that is not fully appreciated and has been neg- | 
lected on this account. It can be grown profitably wherever corn can be ;■ 
grown. Cane produces 20 tons or more of fodder per acre or will make 200 | 
gallons of syrup. It makes good hay when sown broadcast and, if cut be- | 
fore it gets too high, will often produce a good second crop of hay or fod- i 
der. Cane is a warm weather plant so that the seed should not be planted | 
until after all danger from frosts is past. If sown broadcast for hay or (I 
fodder, 50 pounds of seed is required per acre. It may be drilled in rows ' 
like corn for fodder and when sown in this manner only 15 pounds of seed ( 
is needed per acre. For syrup it is drilled thinly in rows 3 to SVz feet apart ‘j 
using 10 pounds of seed per acre. Sow the seed about one inch deep from I 
June 1st to July 1st in the northern states. | 
EARLY AMBER CANE.—The most common and extensively grown va- ij 
riety of Cane. It can be grown on any soil or in any climate from Cali- i 
fornia to Maine. It will thrive on your poorest land as well as your best, j 
and is one of the greatest destroyers of obnoxious weeds in existence. Our 1 
northern grown stock is the earliest, richest, and best for syrup. It pro- i 
duces a rich, clear syrup, yielding 150 to 250 gallons per acre. Sorghum , 
grown for syrup often returns $100.00 per acre. jj 
EARLY ORANGE C.ANE.—Grows similar to Early Amber Cane but has 
heavier and shorter stalks. Especially suitable for extremely rich soils as IJ 
it withstands storms and wet weather without lodging. Makes fine quality ii 
syrup and is also a splendid sort for fodder and ensilage. 
For prices, see Isbell’s Curreait Price List. 
