ThK CUI.TIVATION OF ORCHARDS. 309 



occasions, because it encourages very early plowing. It must 

 also be sown too early in the season for best results with tillage. 

 It should be sown not later than the middle or last of July in 

 this latitude. It affords an excellent winter cover for the soil, 

 and it is rich in fertilizer value. It should be sown at the rate of 

 a bushel of seed to the acre. Seed can be obtained of the leading 

 seedsmen. 



Rye is a favorite cover crop in peach orchards, chiefly because 

 it grows well upon light soils and can be depended upon to make 

 good growth with the most indifferent preparation of land. It 

 contains very little fertilizing value, however. 



Cow peas are nearly worthless in this state, as shown in Bull- 

 etin 6 1 , as they are killed by the first frost and must therefore be 

 sown very early if growth of any consequence is obtained. The 

 leaves also fall when the plant is frosted, and the land does not 

 receive so much protection as it does from other plants. 



Common field beans are open to much the same objection as 

 the cow pea, although the season of growth is short. We used 

 them in 1890 on a portion of one of our orchards, but concluded 

 that they were unprofitable as a cover crop. 



Field peas are excellent for fall sowing in orchards. I,ast year 

 a sowing of peas made on August 18, made vines two to three 

 feet long and completely covered the ground. 



But I am looking to the crimson clover as the coming orchard 

 cover and green manure, although it is not yet positively deter- 

 mined just how well it will endure our winter. We made a sow- 

 ing of it late in the summer of 1893. The ' ' catch " was very poor, 

 but what plants we obtained endured the winter and grew vigor- 

 ously this spring. In New Jersey, as stated in Bulletin 100 of 

 the Experiment Station of that state, the following points, 

 amongst others, are now considered to be established : 



" Crimson clover is an annual plant, hardy for the whole state ; 

 it has been successfully grown in every county from Cape May 

 to Su.ssex. It is adapted for a wide variety of conditions, both 

 in reference to character of soil, and method and time of seeding-, 

 though not as a substitute for red clover." 



"Crimson clover may be seeded in orchards, berry patches, 

 gorn, tomatoes, etc., and upon raw ground following after pota- 



