CIHM Microfiche Series ({Monographs) ICIMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Instituta for Historical IMicroraproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductioni hittoriquas Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the t)est original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibiiographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming are checked below. D Coloured covers / Couverture de couleur □ Covers damaged / Couverture endommag^ □ Covers restored and/or laminated / Couverture restaur^e et/ou pellicula Cover title missing / Le titr. de couverture manque I Coloured maps / Cartes g^ographiques en couleur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black) / Encre de couleur (I.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations / D C2 D D Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material / Relid avec d'autres documents Only edition available / Seule Edition disponible Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin / La reliure serrte peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge intdrieure. Blank leaves added during restorations may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming / II se peut que ceriaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, torsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6td film^s. Addittonal comments / Commentaires suppl^mentaires: L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'it lui a M possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exenv plaire qui sont peut-dtre unk)ues du point de vue bibli- ographkiue. qui peuvent nrK)difier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modifk»tion dans la m^tho- de nomnale de filmage sont indk^u^s ci-dessous. I I Cotoured pages / Pages de couleur I I Pages damaged / Pages endommagtes D Pages restored and/or laminated / Pages restaurdes et/ou pellicultes Q Pages discoloured, stained or foxed / Pages dteolor^es, tachet^es ou pk^utes I I Pages detached / Pages d^tach^s I y\ Showthrough/ Transparence I I Quality of print varies / D D D Quality \n63a\e de I'impresston Includes supplementary material / Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image / Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'enata. une pelure, etc., ont 616 U\m6es h nouveau de facon k obtenir la meilleure image possible. Opposing pages with varying colouration or discotourations are filmed twrce to ensure the best possible image / Les pages s'opposant ayant des colorations variables ou des decolorations sont filmtes deux fois afin d'obtenir la meilleure image possible. This Him is f ilmtd M the reduction ratio elitclctd boiow / Ce document Mt film« au taux da reduction indiqu* elnleaioua. 10x 14x 18x 12x 16x 20x 22x MX 26x 30x 28x H 32x The copy filmed here hes been reproduced thenkt to the generosity of: Library Agrieulturt Canada The imeges cppearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire film* fut reproduit grAce i la ginArositA de: Bibliothiqut Agrieulturt Canada Les images suivantes ont €xi reproduites avec le plus grand soln, compte tenu de la condition at de la nettetA de l'exemplaire filmt, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to bo entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, aa many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est ImprimAe sont filmts en commen^ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration. soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont fllmte en commen^ant par la premiire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la derniAre imago da cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symboie -*- signifie "A SUIVRE". le symbols ▼ signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent ttro filmte i des taux da reduction diff Arents. Lorsquo le document est trop grand pour ttre reproduit en un seui cliche, ii est filmi i partir de I'anglo supArieur gauche, de gauchr i droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant le nomLre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithodo. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ««ctocory risoiution tbt ckaut (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) A /APPLIED irvMGE 1653 Eo»l Uoin StrMI Roch«t«r. N«w York 14609 USA (716) 4B2 - 0300 - Phorw (716) 2U - J989 -"-o. - 1 DEPARTMENT OF AGRlCU^.TURE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM OTTAWA, CANADA THE RAPE PLANT (Brassica napv^, Linn.) ITS CULTURE, USE AND VALUE J. H. GRISDALE, B. Aj^r. Agriculturist of the Ca^trat Experimental Farm BULLETIN No. 42 MAY, 1003 Publi.h«d by dif^lon of the >.on. SYDNEY A. FISHER. Minirter of Agriculture, Otf we. Ont To the Honourable The ^Minister of Agriculture. Sib, — I have the honour to submit foi your approval, Bulletin No. 42, which has been prepared by Mr. J. H. Qrisdale, Agriculturist of the Central Experimental Farm. In this bulletin the cultivation, use and value of the Rape plant is discussed and its usefulness for forage purposes for most classes of stock demonstrated. The best methods or cultivation are submitted, also the cost of growing this crop. Some par- ticulars are also given as to the results obtained at the Central Experimental Farm in the feeding of this plant to swine and steers. It is hoped that the information given in this bulletin will be useful to fanners and stockmen throughout the country, 1 have the honour to be, Your obedient servant. Ottawa, May 20, 1903, WM, SAUNDERS, Director Experimdntal Farms. RAPE (Brasttca naput, Linn.) THE RAPE PLANT, ITS CULTURE, USE AND VALUE ( By J. H. Grisdale, B. Agr., AgriculturUt.) Amongr all forage plants possible and profitable of cultivation in Canada none worthier of a more extensive use than rape. It is simple of eultnre; It mahM a strong, rapid growth; it adapts itself quite readily to different aoila and to various climatic conditions ; it responds vigorously to fertilizer and to good cultiTation ; and, most important of all its good qualities, it is a palatable, whule^umu auJ nutritious green food for all kinds of live stock on the average Canadian farm. THE PLANT. Rape sterna and leaves resemble those of Swedish turnips or ruta-bagai, but the roots are like those of cabbage. The leaves are numerous, smooth, more or leas fleshy, irregular ib outline and covered With a fine bluish bloom. The plant grows to a height of from one to four feet, according to soil and season. VARIETIES. The variety most commonly used >a Canada is the Dwarf Essex. S^vnil other i-orts, most notably Dwarf Victoria and Broad Leaved, have been brought . ard, but have not, on trial, been found to equal the Dwarf Essex in yield or in power f resist- Tiv^ .0 drought or flood. SEED. 6 vareties used as forage plants are biennial, but do not, generally speaking, throu( the winter in Canada, unless it be in certain parts of British Columbia. Seed, thei : ore, is imported and is generally good. Occasionally, however, seed of the annual variety, or Bird Seed Rape, is sold in the place of the Dwarf Essex or other biennial sorts, causing considerable loss to the stockman. The seedsman from whom the rape seed is secured should, therefore, be required to guarantee it as being that of Dwarf Essex. SUITABLE soils: Rape in the farm economy may be classed with root or hoed crops. It will grow on almost any kind of arable land. It does best, however, on soils rich in plant food and full of humui or vegetable matter. It should, therefore, be sown on fields prepared as they would be for roots or corn. Sod, to give a good crop of rape, must be left to rot for some time after ploughing before sowing rape. It should be harrowed at frequent intervals and the field be in a state of perfect tilth when seeded. New land may be most profitably used to grow this crop for a year or two immediately after being cleared. Large crops of rape are practically certain on such land, and stumps or roots interfere but slightly with the harvesting. Black soil or muck gives good returns when put under rape and may be expected to give better returns with rape than with meet other crops. Tmi or SBiMNa ^IT' "^T!^' *"'?*•"' «>««"•"" conditions The crop, growing un.ler favourable weather and .o.l oond. ,on^ may be fit for pMture in about five wedu. From this fact The plant will .tft„d a quite heavy frt*i without suffering appreciable injury. UETHOM OF 8EEUIXU. fir„„rfc«< -Rape „,ny be sojn broadcast or in rows. Where intended to be used or soiluig a th.n broadeaat seeding may be expecte.1 to give satisfaction. The quan- tify of seed required per acre when sown broadcast is about four pounds. A laiger quantity of «.ed may 1« used when it is intended to cut a. soon after seeding m f^n i^K '^ ^"""'"^ ^•*^'"%,'* •' '°*^'"''^ ♦» P*"™'' ♦^'^ P'«nt« t° «ttain their n? ».f!r«; J '"''«' "nd "'"•ll •terns are the moat nutritio,,, and palatable parts of the plant, hence the above conditions of seeding. nn^ Yilu f '!'"«/'"■ ""[••"»• •^"'•^ ''•^"W ^ taken to cut not lower than four or four a thir.l .1^ {""" the ground. By observing thi. p««aution. a second, and even a third, crop may be expected from the same area without any further seeding ! i BOWS. «f J!^'^ «°''.°^'? 'T'' '**" *^"" * P°"°<^« !»"• "0" ""y be "-e.l. The quantity is of course, affected by the space between the rows. Anywhere from 2i to SO^nSrspacS ZoTT %i'^ satisfaction but 22 inch spaces are probably the most profitable Le^ TZ ? ^ '°*'^ u ""?^.? ^°'^ cultivation inconvenient ; greater space meanf " slight decrease in the yield per acre. In dry soils or drought areas. Wei culTu re dio^d be practised; m badly drained fields or rainy district., it is advi^^blTto ^ow o^ tl,« »^^*j'"*l^*^Tf **^"i* i" ''**'' "• •f^ne^JJy speaking, much to be preferred ov-r nniti ltr„'i/^ T'L'"^"' '"''^ "^"'""^ K'°^th, (3) less waste when pwturc ,5 ammak naturally waUe between rows and do not. therefore, trample so many leave, r ttn :f".Uttur:rdrr'""'' ""' I'l ^""'^^ *'* •="'*^"*'°''' ^^^'^'^ insuree'cS^I^rva. tion ot moisture in dry i^easons, and destruction of weeds in wet times. AS A CATCH CROP. Rape ia sometimes mixed with grain and sown in the spring. It makes a slow growth till harvest time. «;l.en after the removal of the grain it rapTdly shrt« V Th U IS a rather uncertain method and more or lees objectionable when i^does succeed on theTeaves. "'"°""' °^ '' ^""""""'^ "'"^ *^" *"^''' ""^ "^ '^^'^'"^ the cur^g of Clover will, generally speaking, do better than rape under euch conditions. «r. tX '^ 'rf ?"" 'T"" '" cornfields just before the last cultivation. The results and Sght **''■' ^°''''"'' "" '^' ^""^ ^""^"^^ "^'^'>- «" '^ «-«"«We moUture USES OF THE CROP. fitte/l!'ri^' "''^i*^"'**'- "P* i« «° exceedingly valuable food. It is eapecially well gootfresuhs •'' ""'''' '°""^ ''''''' ""'^ ^^^'«- ^' ^'^ ^^ ^W to dair? cows with Sheep on Rapt.— Breeding ewn do well on it in Miimmer, and it constitutM a capital feed for ' fiuahinfr ' or puttins: them into good condition for breeding in the fal . Lamb* thrive upon i , but in their caw it is posaibiy even more imperative than •vith older sheep or cattle t.» provide some other pasture (preferably other than clover) in addition to the rape. Paeture for Piga.— It makea a very good pasture for brood sowa. A little oom or barley fed in conjunction helps to balance the ration. For fattening and growing pigs it cannot be surpassed. The>- sometinu» need to be trained to eat it, but once taught they consume it most freely. An acre sown on good land and handled c ref;,lly rnay be expectetl to carry from 25 to 40 piga from June 16 to October. The exact number nn acre will carry depends upom the sea*ou, the soil, and the method of handling. To get the best results, the field should be divided into three or four equal parts and the pigs changed over to n fresh part ench week or ten days. '^oiling Pigs.—Oi course, greater reiurns in ptiunds of pork produced may be secured by cutting the rape and feeding it to pigs in pens, but more labour is required and «o, in a measure at least, the advantage is lost. Young Cattle and Sleere.—Cahes relish n small amount of rape at a very early ape, end do well on it when fed judiciously. Young cattle thrive on it when it is fed in connection with natural grass pasture. Steers intended for stall feeeding or late fall marketing cnnnot be better cared for than to be allowed the run of n good field of rape. Dairy eou'*.— -Dairy cows respond well to c rape ration, but judgment must be exercised in feeding or evil odours may find their way into the milk pail. DANGERS. In feeding rape to cattle and sheep care should I* taken to prevent bloating. They shoiild nev..r be allowed to enter a rape field tvhen very hungry; more especially should this precaution be observed if the rape is wet from dew, rain or frost. Once accustomed to the feed, however, and having access to it at all time*, little danger may be anti"' ed. Piga are not affectef] in thia way. HARVESTIXO. On account of its verj- juicy nature, it is practically impossible to cure rape, and nhen cured it is not so palatable nor so valuable a food as when green. It is .ot much used in making ensilage. In sections where rather steady frost maintains (once the hard frosts come) rape may be cut and put in small piles to freeze. It should be taken to the stable the day before required for feed and allowed to thaw out completely before being fed. Re- peated thawing and freezing spoil it for foi-.ge. COMPOSITIOX. In chemical composition and fe-ding value rape resembles clover. It is oven richer than clover in flesh .orming constituents, and is exceedingly succulent. Analyses show its water-content to run from about SO to about 94 per cent. The miiritive ratio or proportion of digestible protein (flesh-forrauig constituents) to dig^tible carbo-hydrates and fata (heat-prodi-cing constitueoits) is about 1 to 3-37. Such a l^rge proportion of digestible protein accounts for the great feeding value of tne plant. Then, .since average, growing animals require a ration of a nutritive ratio ot about 1 to 5 ■;>, it is easily seen why most animals require some other food not so :* I 6 fi'?tWi''T*'"" "'""' ***** '"'*"■ ''"'""*•*••'■ **■■ " '"'"•^ '^"•» P""'"" """M be auiuble CMT TO PBUDLCC lUPE AT OTTAWA. One Aert. Ploufhing in spring $2 00 Harrowing (4 timet) team, 3 hotin ' -« Rolling. ) hour ao Seed. 3 Iba. at 8c ^ Sowing. 3 hours at 131c , . . . .'.' .'.' " ^ Hand wheel hoeing, once, 4 hours 33 Cultivating. 3 times, single horw, f da.v at $2, ......... \ 50 Hoeing, once, 1 day. . ; I g-j 16 95 If the rent of land be conaidered. and any commercial fertilizer or barnyard ,^HJ«?^ /'"' '^•.**'* '^'1 "' P'"*'""' ^ *""'«* °' «»""• be increa««l. As already thU?i^.' *'"'"' '"™'''^ """"'* """y ^ "'"«* profitably applied to land uaed for RESULTS rSOU FEEDING HAPE AT OTTAWA k-nt^f'*? '' '^y *"'■* ^l ^'^ *''*^ •°*^* ««*"*"* '««"Jt«- No exact record was kept of the amount consumed, however, as they were pastured .t-,« *rrL . '**" '""*)";^ ^'^ ?" "** '""'^ «^ """It* ««"'«1- A bunch of 22 aS? "tut 3o"Zrb°.H?* '""??' !r^°' "'^ "*'»•*'• '" 3 '"»''• 0° - •"• of 2 w^k, Th^lZ^A^A ^ ""«*««*.*'' P"t"'e «n part of thU «ime ai«a for 10 weefa^ The sheep had had at the same time access to a limited are. of natural grass KXPERIHENTS WITH PI08. Th- Inl*"* """*''' £j*? "*J'^ annually on rape on the Experimental Farm at OtUwa t^on St* •"^'^ " ""'""•'''**^ "^ •""'*"*" *•« P*"* »""'«° by rape in pork produc ;wsi^eerh;'^rara:;:o^'^.;^" '"•^"'^ ^""^ ^'*-* " »"'-"'- '^- I^T OF SIX PUm OX RAPK PASTURE. No. of Pig. Wbights. Aiig. It. Aug. 28. lib.. 2? »> ::< gj W T-S »«:::::•:;;•■;:.::;.:;:■■• ■ S -? •*■• r^s tM Total xrft 436 Total gain jp r>ail.v rate of gainin llm 1 ojj l>sil,v grain rati< IP j •Sept. U. Sept. 85.