84 THE AMERICAN PEACH ORCHARD 



in the spring is of some value to the land. The soil 

 always comes out in better condition after a 

 heavy snowfall than when it stands bare during the 

 winter. The cover crop also catches the fall rains 

 and allows them to sink slowly into the soil instead 

 of running off. This may also be of considerable 

 value in certain cases. 



4. The cover crop is valuable in catching and 

 holding soluble fertilizers. The nitrates in partic- 

 ular leach away rapidly into the soil. This loss 

 is particularly great during the late autumn when 

 the tree roots are not active. At this time soluble 

 nitrates are almost certain to pass away in the drain- 

 age water, or to leach down out of reach unless they 

 are taken up by the roots of cover crops. If taken 

 up by the cover crops, they are held in the roots 

 or the tops and subsequently returned to the trees 

 in a highly available form when the cover crop rots. 

 While this action is important with respect to 

 nitrates, the same process takes place with all other 

 soluble plant foods. 



5. The cover crop adds fiber and humus to the 

 soil. This also is a matter of prime importance. 

 The most serious criticism which can be made of 

 a general system of constant tillage in orchards 

 is that cultivation depletes the humus and vegetable 

 matter of the soil. The water-holding capacity of 

 soil is greatly reduced by this means and presently 

 the land becomes dead and lifeless. If it has a 

 tendency to puddle and bake, this tendency is 

 greatly increased. A good heavy cover crop grown 

 annually on an orchard will prevent any trouble of 

 this kind. 



6. The cover crop may add to the soil nitrogen 

 which is the most expensive kind of plant food. All 

 the leguminous crops (those belonging to the pea 



