20 SUGGESTIONS TO SETTLEES IN COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY. 



to plow the crop under occasionally, clover is a much more satisfac- 

 tory crop than alfalfa, because the latter is so difficult to plow and 

 get rid of and the roots rot so slowly. 



(2) For early fall seeding use red clover, hairy vetch, rye, or wheat. 

 Rye or wheat are frequently sown with the clover or vetch. 



(3) For late fall seeding, use rye, wheat, or hairy vetch. 



(4) For spring or early summer seeding, use red clover, hairy vetch, 

 peas, spring vetch, rye, wheat, oats, or barley. 



It is frequently possible to grow green-manure or cover crops during 

 the summer after marketing early truck crops or after plowing up an 

 old strawberry bed. On these sterile sandy soils hairy vetch some- 

 times fails to make a satisfactory growth the first time that it is 

 sown, because of the lack of nodule-forming bacteria. Even when 

 this is the case thrifty plants with nodules on the roots can usually 

 be found scattered here and there over the field. By plowing the 

 land and sowing vetch again on the same land, the second crop 

 should be a success. Wlien the soil is once supplied ^\dth the proper 

 bacteria there will be few better green-manure and cover crops than 

 hairy vetch. Wlien sown for the first time, either the seed or the 

 soil should be inocidated. 



The purpose of these crops is quite fully discussed in bulletins 

 listed at the close of this circular, and for that reason further con- 

 sideration is not here necessary. 



WIND-BREAKS. 



While objections are often made to the use of wind-breaks they are 

 ^ery advantageous wherever orchards, vineyards, small fruits, or 

 truck crops are exposed to strong winds. Especially is this true 

 where the soil is sandy and subject to drifting. Since the prevailing 

 winds are from the west and southwest, the principal wind-breaks 

 should extend north and south or approximately at right angles to the 

 direction of the wind. 



Some of the more important points to be remembered in the selec- 

 tion of trees for wind-breaks are the following: Effectiveness in 

 checking the velocity of the wind, value as timber, longevity, diffi- 

 culty in starting, inclination to harbor orchard pests, habits of 

 encroachment upon the areas protected, etc. Few trees meet all of 

 these requirements. When a single variety is planted few trees are 

 as effective as the poplars, especially the Lombardy poplar. They 

 develop rapidly, branch from the ground up, and make a very efficient 

 wind-break when planted close together. A very effective wind- 

 break can be made by planting the black locust and the Russian 

 artemisia too;ether in the same row. The locusts should be set about 

 8 feet apart in the row. The timber of the locust makes valuable 

 fence posts. 



[Cir. 60] 



