Inter-Planted Crops 119 



wood. This is especially important where the winter cold 

 is a factor, but of less importance in the warmer peach- 

 growing regions. 



9. The winter cover may protect the roots from injury. 



10. Nitrates which are not required by the trees during 

 the late fall and winter are taken up by the growing crops, 

 thus preventing their loss. The nitrates are returned to 

 the soil in the decaying humus. 



11. Leguminous crops add nitrogen to the soil. The 

 growing of such crops is usually by far the cheapest method 

 of securing this important and costly plant-food. 



12. In some cases cover-crops prevent erosion of the soil. 



13. In regions where alkali troubles are a factor, they 

 sometimes may prevent the salts which would otherwise 

 come to the surface from becoming sufficiently concentrated 

 to cause harm. 



The wise use of cover- and green-manure crops presents 

 many problems to the peach-grower. Perhaps the one which 

 transcends all others is what crop to put in, and when, 

 for the best results. The question is answered, if at all, 

 in much the same w^ay that a skillful physician prescribes 

 for a patient. He knows the patient and his needs, and the 

 remedies with which he has to work. The more completely 

 the physician is possessed of this information, the more 

 skillfully and effectively he can prescribe a course of treat- 

 ment. In the same way, the better a peach-grower knows 

 his orchard and its needs, and the means and materials at 

 hand with which to work, the more successful, other things 

 being equal, he makes the orchard. 



It requires good judgment to know when to use these 

 crops and when to omit them. In very dry falls when there 

 is but little moisture in the soil, or in regions of limited pre- 



