UME, GVI'SUM AND GRKKN MANURES III 



will have grown sufficiently to turn under and the land may be 

 sowed to some small grain crop ; or the green manure crop may 

 be planted after harvest and remain on the land all winter and 

 plowed under in the spring. 



In fruit orchards green manure crops (cover crops) as rye. 

 oats, clover, etc., are often sown about mid-summer to absorb 

 moisture and available plant food from the soil and to cause the 

 buds to mature and cease growth of the wood and leaves. This 

 crop is allowed to remain on the soil all winter and in the spring 

 it is plowed under. By keeping the land covered during the 

 winter leaching of plant food and washing away of soil is 

 lessened. 



Deep Rooted Plants Valuable. — Alfalfa, clover, etc., have very 

 long tap roots which penetrate the subsoil, thus securing a great 

 deal of plant food that would not be within reach of many culti- 

 vated plants. These leguminous plants also bring a great deal of 

 plant food from the subsoil to the surface soil and leave it there 

 for succeeding crops. When these deep roots decay they leave 

 openings in the soil which help to increase drainage and aera- 

 tion and thus improve the physical condition of soils. 



