CULTIVATION OF RAPE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 858, 9 November 1916, Page 16

CULTIVATION OF RAPE.

GROWN IN AUSTRALIA. Rape is a crop that at. the present time is receiving considerable attention, and is probably destined to become one of the greatest fodder plants for sheep husbandry in Australia, as turnips are in New Zealand (says the "Pastoral Review"). Settlers are beginning to realise the value of the plant for fattening sheep, and, as numerous inquiries are being made as to the best method of cultivation, a few notes on the subject may prove of interest. Rape is a deep-rooter] plant, sending its roots well down into the subsoil, and obtaining its plant food from the lower part of the surface soil. This fact makes it especially valuable for withstanding periods of drought, as, the roots being well down in the soil, the plants are able to obtain a supply of moisture when more shallow-rooted plants would be suffering. Rape thrives best in a deep alluvial soil which is well drained, and which contains plenty of decayed vegetable matter, but the plant is capable of adapting itself to more adverse conditions. Preparation of Land. The land should be deeply ploughed and well worked, and brought to as fine a tilth as possible, but if '•' sown on stubble land it would be sufficient on light soils to thoroughly stir the surface with a disc harrow, although ploughing and harrowing l would be preferable. Should the paddock be in a weak condition, give it fully scwt of animal manure per acre, or, failing that, a special rape manure can now be obtained. Seeding. The seed may be sown from the first autumn rains to the end of September, but the best results are obtained from the early-sown crops. It may either be drilled or sown broadcast, but the former method is much to be preferred, as it permits of cultivation, which insures conservation of moisture in dry seasons and the destruction of weeds. If sown in drills -lib to Gib of seed per acre will be sufficient, but if broadcasted half as much again should be used. The drills should be 18in to 2ft apart. Rape grows very rapidly if kept clean, and an early hoeing, either by hand or horse hoe, benefits it wonderfully. Feeding Value.

In chemical composition and feeding value, rape resembles clover. It is even i richer than clover in flesh-forming con-1 stituents, and is exceedingly succulent. I For fattening sheep and lambs and for. feeding cattle, dairy cows, pigs, etc., it I is now recognised as being one of the ! best green feeds. For sheep and lambs green rape is j rich in flesh-forming constituents as well as fatty matter, but the sheep must be I turned in carefully at first, for if the I hungry animals are allowed to fill them-1 selves upon young rape plants, and these ! alone, inflammation is apt to ensue. When about 10 weeks old, the plants will be a fair size, and at first the sheep should only be allowed to feed for an hour or so in the afternoon. Sheepfarmers are now sowing lib mustard to the acre with rape, as this ! prevents blowing in the sheep. In the case of cattle, milch cows are very fond of it, and eat it greedily. So it must not be given to them in large quantities; otherwise it is liable to taint the milk. A good plan is to let the cattle feed for some hours on less succulent food before turning them in upon rape; otherwise they are apt to eat too much of it, and run the risk of becoming blown. Green Manuring. For soils deficient in humus, and rf'hich will benefit by the addition of vegetable matter, rape is one of the best crops that can be grown. A crop of rape ploughed into the soil will improve it very considerably. Varieties of Rape. There are several varieties of rape, perhaps the best known being the Dwarf Essex. The bulk of the world's supply of this variety has been grown in England and Holland, but owing to the war the export of this seed has been prohibited from the latter country. Supplies are now being sent out from France, and several of the largest growers in Victoria state that French seed is equal in every respect to the English-grown. A considerable nuantity is also being sent from the East, principally Japan, but too much cannot bo saiil of the merits of this seed, as it. has not been thoroughly tested yet. One of the best rapes of all is the Giant Kangaroo, a variety which was raised in Victoria. The stalks are unlike ordinary rape, as they break easily, and are very succulent right through. It grows to a great height, and those who have grown it say they can fatten three more sheep to the acre than on other I kinds.