152 State Horticultural Society. 



The study of plant food and plant feeding is as important to the 

 fruit grower as cattle feeding is to the stockman. To obtain the best 

 results it is just as necessary that a peach tree should have a balanced 

 ration as it is for a steer to be fed in a certain way and with certain 

 kinds of foods. In feeding pigs and calves we feed for muscle and 

 bone ; the dairy cow we feed for milk ; the matured hog or steer we 

 feed for fat. 



The orchardist should feed his trees in like manner. If thev 

 are young trees, just planted, he should feed for a proper growth and 

 development of the tree. If they are of b-earing age, they must be 

 fed for the development of fruit buds and the maturing of the fruit 

 as well as tree growth. It is in balancing this ration that cover crops 

 play an important part. 



We find that if we keep our trees in a high state of cultivation 

 through the entire season, that the wood and f rtiit buds will be toe 

 succulent, too tender to stand the cold of winter. If we cultivate in 

 tlie early part of the season, then leave the bare soil exposed to the 

 heat of summer and the cold of winter, to the washing and leaching 

 effect of rain and melting snow, the results will be unsatisfactory. 

 We should then induce the necessary growth in the forepart of the 

 season, keeping in mind that the available plant food must not only 

 be retained as much as possible, but that it should be increased and 

 made ready for food supply for next year. 



We will say then that a cover crop is of value : 



ist. By improving the condition of the soil, both physical and 

 chemical. 



2nd. By regulating to a certain extent the food and water sup- 

 ply. 



3rd. By bringing about the conditions necessary for the .best 

 results at the least expense. 



That cover crops are of great value to the soil physically speak- 

 ing, is apparent even to the most ignorant tiller of the soil. It may 

 be difficult for some of us to understand the chemical changes that 

 are going on under the surface, but it is easih' apparent that if a 

 leachy soil is not protected in some way it soon loses its fertility ; 

 that a heavy clay soil must have humus and fiber worked into it be- 

 fore it will be productive ; that a cold mucky gumbo will not produce 

 until it has been warmed up by turning under a few crops of vegeta- 

 tion. The ordinary plowman may not understand all about the bac- 

 teriological and chemical changes that take place when this vegetable 

 matter is plowed under, but he does know by practical experience 

 that it is effectual. 



