R, M. Teague Nurseries, San Dimas, Cal. 
23 
A citrus tree budded to tiventy-tivo different varieties. 
fertilize enough to keep the fertility of the soil from 
becoming exhausted. This can be done by growing 
cover crops of legumes, or supplying barn-yard man- 
ures or commercial fertilizers. The legumes most 
generally used are peas, vetch, fenuegreek and the 
clovers, the bitter clover (Melilotus Indica) being 
the most popular on account of its rank growth. As 
all legumes gather nitrogen from the air and store it 
in the stalk and roots of the plant, they are much 
more desirable as a cover crop than any other form of 
vegetation. The amount of nitrogen derived from a 
good cover crop together with its value in adding 
humus to the soil makes it one of the cheapest ways 
of fertilizing. The value of a cover crop depends 
largely on the amount of growth it makes and the 
manner in which it is turned under in the spring. 
A large part of the value of any cover crop, manure 
or fertilizer is lost if it is left on top of the ground. 
It must be placed where the feeding roots of the tree 
can reach it. It must be remembered that a certain 
amount of plant food is taken out of the ground by 
the cover crop and unless it is all turned under so 
that the tree can get the full benefit of it, the plant 
food returned to the soil may not exceed that con- 
sumed. 
Barnyard manure is considered the best for citrus 
trees and careful experiments made with it show 
more satisfactory results than with any other method 
of fertilizing. Unfortunately the supply is so limited 
that it is not always possible to get a sufficient 
amount to properly fertilize any considerable acreage. 
On bearing trees 10 to 15 tons to the acre should be 
applied every other year. 
Bean straw and alfalfa are also valuable fertilizers, 
but can only be used when a surplus of feed brings 
the price within reach of the orchardist for fertilizing 
purposes. 
In using manure, much better results are obtained 
