RAPE. Brassica rapa. The cultivation of rape for its seed, from which an oil is expressed, formerly used for its superior illuminating power, and for its other uses in the arts, has, of late years, considerably declined even in Europe. The best varieties, for oil are the biennial species, notably B. campestris °lifer. None of the biennials are hardy in the North. Hence in the cultivation of this plant, chiefly in Wisconsin, an inferior annual variety, the German Eanoothed-leaved, with upright pods, B. Pram., is sown. The seed may either be sown broadcast or in drills, three pounds drilled or six pounds broadcast. The most economical way, however, is to sow in drills. It is harvested by reaping, and dried and threshed similar to flax. It is comparatively little cultivated now, though at one time there were mills at Fond du Lac, Wis., capable of working 100,000 bushels of seed in a season. Land under fair culture will yield ten to eighteen .bushels of rape per acre, though thirty-five per acre have been obtained. The seeds yield about two gallons of oil per bushel. The crop leaves the soil in excel lent condition, and the chaff, when mixed with roots, makes an excellent cattle food. The rape seed cake is highly valued in Europe for feeding dairy cows. In case a crop of grain gives indica
tions of failure, it can be turned under in season for raising a crop of rape in its place, which is. subject to no disease or insect enemy. Its broad leaves shade the soil and stifle any weeds that may spring up after it gets fully established, and it prepares the soil admirably for winter wheat; it requires no labor during its growth, and may be cut with a cradle scythe or mower, and har vested at a most convenient time, in the first half of September, after the summer harvests are out of the way, and before the corn and potato har vest begins. One bushel yields about two gal lons of oil, superior to the best•lard or sperm as an illuminating oil, besides being a good lubri cator, and enduring an intense degree of cold before solidifying. The only conditions unfavor able to the entire success of rape as a general farm crop are, that it will not succeed on foul land, where it would be choked out by, weeds in its early growth, and that it must be harvested just as the pods are turning from green to yellow or much of the seed will be lost.