34 OECHAED GEEEN-MANUEE CROPS IN CALIFOENIA. 



The wholesale price of fenugreek seed in the European market is 

 from 2^ to 3 cents per pound. The price to the grower would of 

 course be somewhat in advance of this, but should not exceed 5 or 

 6 cents. Wlien 30 pounds of seed per acre are used, this would make 

 the cost of seeding from $1.50 to $1.80 per acre. 



Black bitter vetch seed, though not handled in quantity by Ameri- 

 can seedsmen, can be secured m foreign markets and imported at a 

 cost that should make the price to the grower about the same or 

 less than that of common vetch. When seeding at the rate of 70 

 pounds of seed per acre, this would make the cost of seeding from 

 $2.40 to $3.50 per acre. As stated elsewhere, the fact that black 

 bitter vetch yields a heavy crop of seed in California and has excep- 

 tionally good seeding habits should make it possible to place Cali- 

 fornia-grown seed on the market at a much less cost than that of 



common vetch. 



SUMMARY. 



California soils, though often very fertile, are generally deficient in 

 humus. 



Within recent years green-manure crops in California have been 

 given special attention. 



The only places where green manures are being used extensively 

 are the citrus and walnut orchards of the southern part of the State. 



Deciduous orchard sections of the State are using practically no 

 green-manure crop. 



By the use of green manures a generally improved condition of 

 orchards has been secured, as shown by a more healthy appearance 

 of the trees and more and better fruit. 



The early seeding of green-manure crops is desirable for obtaining 

 the best results. 



Green manures should be turned under before the trees start new 

 growth in the spring. 



Heavier seeding than is ordinarily practiced is advised. 



Common vetch and field peas are the most generally used green- 

 manure crops, the vetch being the most popular. 



Peas or common vetch sown in the fall without irrigation will not, 

 except in the most favorable years, make sufficient growth to be 

 turned under early as a green manure, but when thus sown will 

 make a good growth later in the spring. 



Field peas, common vetch, and bur clover are adapted to quite 

 varied conditions, and are being grown in a limited way throughout 

 the State. 



In any part of the State having a mild winter a green-manure 

 crop of peas or common vetch will succeed if sown early in the fall 

 with irrigation. 



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