Show TURNIP RAPE SEED under normal conditions the united states has received a great part of it great part of its supply of winter rape seed from the nether lands but owing to the restrictions placed on the export of this i seed during the past year other sources of supply have been beena sought this has resulted in seed of several types of plants being imported under the name of rape from countries not usually contributing to our supply approximately P pounds of seed of turnip rape orv or enough i 1 to sow acres ha have e been imported since april 1 1 this so called turnip rape is not rape at all but a turnip without the thickened root of the garden turnip and is cultivated for its oil bearing seed the plants are winter annuals with a growing period similar to that of winter rape not blossom ing or seeding the season in in which the seed is planted tho tha ava beaves e we the first year aie are idd radical icil growing from the root forming a rs rosette ette on th the e ground a as s distinguished from winter rape which produces a stem often two test keet high hien the first season the loaves leaves ot of turnip rape are bright green in color thin rough noigh and hairy while the leaves of winter rape are smooth fleshy and covered with a grayish green bloom the seeds of turnip rape are usually smaller than those of winter rape with more deeply marked net work and often are of a grayish black color the seedlings of the two plants can be distinguished definitely by the bhe fact that all the leaves of turnip rape grow from practically the same point forming a rosette while there is a space or interval between each successive two leaves of winter rape a definite stem being thus formed these differences can be observed when the seedlings are f about two weeks old or as soon as the second and third true leaves appear while turnip rape is said to be hardy and to grow on poorer land than winter rape it gives less forage and that of a poorer quality than winter rape As the seed of turnip rape is being offered for sale throughout the country at the present time under the name of winter rape or dwarf essex rape farmers desiring to seed rape should be ont heir guard against purchasing seed of turnip rape in place of that of the true winter rape |