22 ORCHARD GREEN-MANURE CROPS IN CALIFORNIA. 



not make so good a showing, yet wherever sown early it has done 

 quite well. 



As to the quantity of green manure produced by fenugreek in 

 comparison with other crops there are but limited data. At Santa 

 Paula, Cal., weights of vetch and fenugreek were taken the middle 

 of February, 1909, to determine the quantity of green manure pro- 

 duced. The plants growing in the space between four trees were 

 cut and weighed green, and the yield per acre was computed from these 

 weights. The fenugreek yielded 11,745 pounds per acre solid area, 

 or 8,432 pounds orchard area, while the common vetch yielded 

 19,140 pounds per acre solid area, or 13,742 pounds orchard area. 

 However, these figures do not justly represent the comparative yield 

 of organic matter, as the moisture content of the vetch was undoubt- 

 edly nmch greater than that of the fenugreek, and the yield of dry 

 matter of the two crops would have been much more nearly equal 

 than is indicated by the figures given. At Chico, in northern Cali- 

 fornia, fenugreek weighed green March 16, 1909, yielded at the rate 

 of 13,721 pounds per acre. This w^as from plantings made October 5, 

 1908. In comparison, at Chico, conunon vetch produced but 2,831 

 pounds per acre. 



Considering the convenience and cost of handling, fenugreek is 

 superior to any other green-manure crop now being used. The 

 upright habit of the plant makes the crop easy to turn under. The 

 roots have many nodules and form a s^^stem similar to that of the 

 field pea. 



Fenugreek is especialh" desirable for an orchard green-manure 

 crop, owing to the fact that no insect pests seem to be harbored by 

 it. This point has been especially noticeable in sections where the 

 army w^orm, harbored in such crops as vetch, bur clover, and field 

 peas, has done considerable damage to fruit. During the season of 

 1907, orchards in which fenugreek was being grown were noted as 

 being free from the army worm, while other orchards in the same 

 section were quite badly infested. 



PLANTING. 



No special preparation of the land is necessary for planting fenu- 

 greek. A seed bed such as is desirable for ordinary field crops is 

 all that is required. The best time for seeding varies somewhat in 

 the different parts of the State. For a winter green-manure crop in 

 southern California, in sections aw^ay from the coast, such as Pomona 

 and Redlands, plantings should be made as early in September as 

 possible. In sections near the coast plantings may be made later 

 with good results, but September planting is to be advised. In 

 northern California plantings for green manure should be made the 

 first of October. 



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