APPLE GROWING 



be recommended for common use, however, 

 as it Is so difficult to grow except under favor- 

 able conditions. It requires a more fertile soil 

 than clover, a soil with little or no acidity, good 

 drainage, and usually the soil must be Inocu- 

 lated. Only where these conditions prevail can 

 alfalfa be generally recommended. 



Vetch is an excellent cover and green manure 

 crop, forming a thick, close mat of herbage 

 which makes a good cover for the soil. It is 

 very quick to start growing and a rapid grower 

 In the spring. It also adds larger quantities 

 of nitrogen. The hairy or winter vetch lives 

 through the hard freezing winters. Summer 

 vetch, although an equally good grower, is 

 killed by freezing. One bushel of seed is re- 

 quired per acre and the seed Is expensive, which 

 is the greatest objection to the use of this ex- 

 cellent crop. 



Two other less well known and used legum- 

 inous crops are well worth trial as cover crops 

 — soy beans in the North and cow peas in the 

 South. Both are great nitrogen gatherers and 

 as they are rank and rapid growers add large 

 quantities of humus to the soil. Under favor- 

 able conditions they will cover the ground with 

 a perfect mat of vegetation In a very short time. 



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