Al'PLK (;R(WIN<; IX CALIFORNIA. 65 



which frequent summer cultivations are given make better growth than 

 do those where cultivation is neglected. In most parts of the arid \\Yst. 

 hut not commonly in California, we find conditions that do not favor 

 summer cultivation. The winters in these places are so cold that noth- 

 ing can l>e in-own during that season of the year. Consequently there is 

 no time, if clean cultivation is practiced, when a crop can be grown for 

 tlie addition of nitrogen or humus, hence the necessity of growing a 

 summer cover crop. 



COVER CROPS. 



In most parts of California our fine warm winter climate enables 

 us to LITOW crops of some kind in the orchard during this season. 

 Owinu 1 t<> this fact summer cultivation is advocated and is practiced 

 successfully nearly everywhere that apples are grown. Because our 

 soils are deficient in nitrogen, a leguminous cover crop is preferable. 

 Amoim the legumes which have given good satisfaction under our con- 

 ditions may be mentioned the common burr clover, vetches, peas, sweet 

 clover and alfalfa. Many object to the growing of alfalfa in an apple 

 on-hard, and probably it is not good practice to sow it unless it is done 

 with the idea of using it for a cover crop only and not for hay. On 

 hardpan soils there is nothing better than the root system of the alfalfa 

 to penetrate into this hard layer, thus breaking it up more or less and 

 enabling the apple roots to go down deeper. When used for this pur- 

 pose it should of course be left growing in the orchard more than one 

 season. AVhen alfalfa is sown it should be kept some distance from the 

 trees in order to facilitate plowing later on, and is only desirable where 

 plenty <f water is available for irrigation. Generally speaking, the 

 cover crnp should be grown only during the winter season, being plowed 

 under early in the spring, if possible, before the rains have ceased. 

 Frequent cultivations later on, after the season becomes warm, will 

 result in conservation of the moisture. If it is not possible to grow 

 a leguminous cover crop, an annual crop such as rye, wheat or barley 

 may le umwii. In this case the principal value would be to better the 

 physical condition of the soil, together with the addition of humus. 

 There are places in the state, no doubt, where apples are grown, and 

 where the rainfall is insufficient to make a cover crop practical, even 

 during the winter season. In such cases fertilizing must be done in 

 some other way. 



One of the most successful apple u rowers of the East says that he 

 made Iris on-hard practically an annual bearer by the use of cover crops. 



FERTILIZERS. 



Then- is nothing better for the orchard than barnyard manure, and 



while the supply is often limited it is in other cases wasted when it 

 miirht br used to irood advantage. It is always wise to apply this 

 liberally, unless the cost is such as to make it prohibitive. 



nmercial fertilizers have not been used extensively, but no doubt 

 would -ive n-siilis under certain conditions at least. Spraying with 

 nitrate of soda and other nitrates, in the early spring, has been done 





