220 ' ANNUAL RFJ'ORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



a better plan would Lave been to plow the beans under before sow- 

 ing- the rye, l)i!t ilicy have served lo keep me soil liom washing, and 

 apparently it has not been necessary to plow them under, for the 

 benelit of the trees, liuckwheat or oats might have been substi- 

 tuted for the beans if the soil had been very fertile. Crimson 

 ch)ver, or some oilier legume might havx' been substituted for the 

 rye a part or all of the time, but no reason for a change has been 

 discovered. The trees are in good condition and have begun to 

 bear. There is no evidence of too much nitrogen. As shown by 

 the crops the soil is steadily improving. 



Could not (he same results have been secured by taking otf some 

 cash crop? On this particular soil the case would have been some- 

 what diiticult; the nearest approach being potatoes, using a fer- 

 tilizer high in i>hos})horic acid, following with crimson clover or 

 rye. Our experience with crimson clover has not been such as to 

 warrant placing much dependence upon getting a stand, nor has 

 vetch proved reliable. Field beans might be used in place of soy 

 beans, and rye sown after the beans are harvested. 



On most soils a money crop might be secured each year and some 

 crop plowed under each spring. It ought to be a settled policy to 

 have some crop standing on the land over winter. It ought to be 

 an almost invariable rule to plant the summer crop in rows to ad- 

 mit of cultivation, for the purpose of conserving moisture. If the 

 plan is varied, as for instance when a crop of red clover is grown 

 to plow under, then let the trees be mulched during that season. 

 If, also, soy beans or cow peas are sown broadcast mulching ought 

 to be attended to. 



I am not prepared to say whether or not some of the leguminous 

 crops may or may not be made into hay and removed from the 

 orchard. The roots and stems of these crops constitute so large 

 a portion of their value that it is possible that the tops may be 

 spared from fertile soil. At least, for a short period, the plan may 

 be practiced without loss. It is a common practice among orchard- 

 ists not to grow a summer crop, but to keep the soil clean by cultiva- 

 tion. If one is studying his orchard he is likely to know whether 

 it needs more nitrogen or if it is sutTering for water. The practice 

 of growing cover crops for the benetit of the orchard admits of 

 great variation, and there is need of careful study of all the factors 

 involved. It is possible by the use of leguminous crops and cul- 

 tivation to increase the supply of nitrogen beyond the needs of 

 fruit trees; causing too rank a growth and preventing coloration 

 of the fruits. This does not necessarily mean that there is too much 

 humus in the soil nor that the practice of turning under of green 

 crops is to be discontinued. It means that the kind of green crop 

 is to be changed. It means that the kind of green crop is to be 

 changed and cultivation lessened. 



On this matter there is much misconception and, in consequence, 

 error in practice. It should be remembered that cultivation sets 

 plant food free and conserves moisture. The first of these otlices 

 is less important in a young orchard than the second. Cultivation 

 should not be haphazard nor excessive, and should be so regulated as 

 to prevent loss of moisture, for the most ])art. 



Just here is the weak point in the common practice. The soil 

 is often kept bare in the early part of the season and thorough 



