272 • BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



stances for another force to contribute fully its yrotit. So our methods 

 Avork a series of profits and losses, a series of compromises. 



The heat of the siin and air do but little unless they can get to the 

 soil for their work. The hard clay soil not cultivated and mulched, re- 

 tard their efforts, but the well-worked surface afford a more favoraole 

 opportunity and they lose no time when t';i voralile conditions exist. 



Freezing and thaAving are valuable forces when the ground has a light 

 or sufficient mulch, but on exposed inicoA'cred land the bad conditions at- 

 tending reduces the profit from this source. 



The bacteria works hirge returns in conjunction with the legumineus 

 plants and in moist, warm soil full of vegetable matter. 



METHODS. 



In order to tise these forces to good results, one of tAvo general 

 methods is advisable. The constant cultivation or the seeding to perma- 

 nent groAving of a green crop. 



First. In the one method the ground should be thoroughly cultiA^ated 

 from early spring to late summer. At the last cultivation sow the ground 

 to rye, oats, peas, or like crop for mulch in Avinter and spring. The cul- 

 tivation should be shalloAV and Avitli a disk, cutaAvay or spating harrow, 

 followed with smoothing harrow. Tliis should be continuous until early 

 fruit has matured and on later fruit until August. Avhicli latter date 

 Avould be as late as a good mulch crop could be grown safely and surely. 

 Rye and oats at a late date are only reliably sure. In early August coav 

 peas may be used, and Avith favorable weather Avill give sufficient mulch. 



Second. The orchard, after the three or four years of cultivation in 

 the start of the trees, in Avhich some other crops are grown, is seeded to 

 clover or some kind of grass or grasses and kept in such crop constantly. 

 There is no better groAvth for tlic improving of tlie soil than the clOA^ers 

 for the orchard. It keeps the soil lot)se— a condition favorable for holding 

 moisture, air circulation, bacterial effects, etc., besides its own ability to 

 ImproA^e in various ways. It affords a good mulch in Avinter and prevents 

 washing. Some one is ready to say that clover will die out. ("lover is 

 good for two or three years. This very objection is the best argument 

 known for its use. The plant at its death surrenders its roots, croAvn and 

 stems to the forces of nature to be decomposed and rendered largely plant 

 food. It is but a reasonable estimate that tAvo tons of this vegetable 

 matter is left in the soil Avith the death of an average crop. The coAV-pea 

 is a great soil renovator from the fact that it makes a great groAvth and 

 dies in one year. The objection that the seed is expensive, is not reason- 

 able. A good article generally costs a little more than a poor one. It 

 might be mentioned here that blue gi-ass and orcliard grass ai-e objection- 

 able from the fact that they do not die and surrender their roots and 

 l^odies for otljer plants. 



