602 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



It must be remembered tbat the bean is a legume and has the power 

 of enriching the soil. The more of any legume (hat is grown in the 

 proper manner in any giound the richer in the fertilizing element 

 of nitrogen does that soil become. This is one reason why beans, 

 peas, cow ])eas, soy beans, etc., and clovers of dillerent kinds are 

 used in maintaining soil fertility. 



One of the largest orchardists of this State regularly grows field 

 corn between his trees the first year. It is a good plan to follow 

 this with crimson clover sowed at the time of (he last working of 

 the corn. There are orchards in this vicinity that show the beneficial 

 effects of this method. 



Potatoes can be grown between the trees, but the chief objection 

 that has been offered to the growing of potatoes is that it is often 

 not until fall that they can be raised from the ground, and digging 

 them results in the same conditions as late cultivation for the trees, 

 which means increased growth of the trees in the late fall, after 

 which they are more liable to be injured by winter freezing. Actual 

 conditions of orchards in this region at the present time show that 

 there is justifiable foundation for this theory. When potatoes are 

 used as the intercrop it is advisable to harrow the ground immedi- 

 ately upon raising them and seed it with rye and winter vetch to 

 remain as a cover crop on the soil during the winter, to be turned 

 down in the spring as a fertilizer. 



An apple orchard can be intercropped a greater number of years 

 than a peach orchard. Crops should be grown between peach trees 

 not more than three years, while between apple trees they can 

 be continued for five or six years. Under certain conditions as to 

 sufficient moisture and fertility a cereal crop can be drilled in strips 

 between the trees if the tree row itself is kept cultivated. The 

 speaker has done this successfully in some of his own orchards. If 

 however, the season is dry and the trees reach fair size, there is dan- 

 ger that the cereal crop growing between the rows may take too 

 much of the moisture from the ground and thus injure the trees. 

 Just as soon as it is seen that this condition is approaching the cereal 

 should be turned down and used as a soil fertilizing crop, and the 

 moisture should be preserved by frequent cultivation. 



After the orchard becomes sufficiently advanced that the owner 

 does not grow crops between the trees it is best to cultivate by clean 

 cultivation until mid-summer and then sow a cover crop of crimson 

 clover, or some other cover crop containing or mixed with a legume, 

 to remain during fall and winter growing fertility, preventing wash- 

 ing, covering the roots of the trees, and giving other benefits from 

 such crop. 



In plowing the ground in the spring it is best to use a one-horse 

 turning plow, commonly called a "bar-share," for plowing two or 

 three rounds nearest the trees. There are several advantages in 

 a one-horse plow in turning the soil near the tree rows. For this 

 purpose one can get nearer the tree without injuring them, and plow 

 shallow, and can control the plow better than with a two-horse plow. 

 Two or three rounds, turning the soil toward each tree row, will be 

 sufficient. These should be followed with the heavy breaking plow 

 or farm plow, drawn by two horses, and continuing to turn the soil 

 toward the tree rows until the finishing furrow or dead furrow is 



