APPLES 



247 



used, but these will not be considered in 

 our discussion, because I do not favor 

 the growing of any crop in the orchard 

 that competes with the trees for moisture 

 and plant food, unless in so doing they 

 put more into the orchard than they take 

 out. The leguminous plants are preferred 

 because they gather nitrogen from the air 

 and deposit it in the soil. The rotting of 

 the top adds humus, and the decaying of 

 the roots improves the soil. 



Needs of Soil Considered 



The kind of crops that should be grown 

 depends largely on the character of the 

 soil. For instance, a sandy soil that has 

 little or no humus would be greatly im- 

 proved by the growing of some crops that 

 would add plant food. We have seen sandy 

 soils on which nothing would grow but 

 sand burrs. After these had rotted for 

 a few years and been mixed with the 

 surface soil the character of the soil was 

 changed and then grass and vegetables 

 could be grown. Any of these soils, in 

 the sandy or volcanic ash regions, in an 

 arid or semi-arid climate, will be greatly 

 improved by a mixture of vegetable mat- 

 ter. Other soils are rich in humus and 

 could scarcely be improved by the addition 

 of more, therefore leguminous crops are 

 not needed for the humus which they 

 will deposit in this kind of soil; yet the 

 soil might be improved by the nitrogen 

 which they would deposit, for generally 

 where there is a large amount of humus 

 there has been a large amount of rainfall 

 which has washed out of the soil many 

 of the substances that are necessary for 

 the production of the best fruits. 



Why Cover Crops Are Grown 



Perhaps it is well to consider the rea- 

 sons why cover crops are grown and then 

 each one may decide for himself what 

 crop is best adapted to his circumstances: 



First: They are grown to check the 

 growth of the trees in the late summer 

 and autumn so that they will mature their 

 wood sufficiently to endure the cold freez- 

 ing of the winter without being winter- 

 killed. 



Second : They are grown to keep the 

 soil from washing or leeching away by 

 the autumn, winter and spring rains. 



This is especially important where there 

 is much rain during the winter season, 

 and where the land is uneven or hilly. 



Third: They are grown to add humus 

 to the soil, and this, as we have already 

 shown, is very important tor soils of a 

 certain character. 



Fourth: They are grown to add nitro- 

 gen to the soil. A chemical analysis of 

 soils made by the experiment station will 

 show what any particular soil needs. 



Fifth; They are grown to break up 

 the hard subsoil so that the roots of the 

 trees may have a larger extension from 

 which to draw plant food. 



Sixth; They are grown to aerate the 

 soil, lead the water down to a greater 

 depth and thus make a larger amount 

 of plant food available. 



Seventh; It is now claimed that these 

 leguminous crops, especially alfalfas and 

 clovers, are the best curatives for what 

 is called apple rosette, a disease that 

 is attacking the trees in some sections 

 of the country (See Rosette.) 



Much, therefore, depends on the char- 

 acter of the soil and other conditions as 

 to what should be grown, and much de- 

 pends on the intelligence and good judg- 

 ment of the grower as to the degree of 

 success that may be reached by the grow- 

 ing of such crops. For Instance, if there 

 is a hard substratum that needs to be 

 broken up in order that the roots of the 

 trees may penetrate more deeply, alfalfa 

 is doubtless the very best leguminous 

 crop, because it has the largest, the most 

 vigorous root system of any of the legu- 

 minous plants, penetrating sometimes to 

 a depth of 20 feet below the surface. In 

 loose, deep, gravelly or sandy soils the 

 breaking up is not necessar.v: and some- 

 thing with a smaller root system would do 

 just as well as alfalfa and perhaps have 

 a larger top system and therefore fur- 

 nish more humus. Where humus is 

 needed and not the breaking up of the 

 subsoil, clover or vetch would be better 

 than alfalfa. 



B«nioTiMff the Crop 



The question is often asked. "Is it per- 

 missible to cut the hay or pasture the 

 orchard, if cover crops are grown?" I 



