254 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



ClOTcrs 



The clovers make good cover crops and 

 in this section of the country are more 

 generally used than anything else. Some 

 prefer the mammoth clover on account of 

 Its making a larger growth. Others prefer 

 the common red clover, vphile still others 

 pin their faith in alsike. Crimson clover 

 is largely used and in sections where it 

 may he depended upon to stand the win- 

 ter, is undoubtedly the best of its class. It 

 Is a very rapid grower, but in most sec- 

 tions of New England it Is likely to win- 

 ter-kill and for this reason is not gener- 

 ally recommended. The safest plan prob- 

 ably is to mix together two or more kinds, 

 always including a little crimson. Some 

 growers prefer to mix in a little turnip 

 seed. The turnips grow rapidly and pro- 

 tect the young clover plants from the hot 

 sun. A suitable mixture may be made up 

 as follows: 



Mammoth clover 6 pounds 



Crimson clover 6 



Alsike clover 3 



Cowhorn turnips 3 ounces 



Alfalfa is so exacting in its require- 

 ments and so slow in starting its growth, 

 that it is seldom used for cover crop pur- 

 poses, except in combinations. 



A close examination of the orchard soils 

 of New England reveals a marked de- 

 ficiency in vegetable matter or humus. 

 There is no more effective way of increas- 

 ing the amount of humus and the ultimate 

 fertility of the soil than by the judicious 

 use of cover crops. 



Any crop that is sown in the orchard for 

 the purpose of turning under in the spring 

 is called a cover crop, and should not be 

 confused with what is commonly called a 

 "catch crop," which is grown to be har- 

 vested. Catch crops are commonly and 

 profitably grown In young orchards be- 

 fore the trees require the whole area. 



Quantity of Seed Per Acre 



Mammoth clover 12 pounds 



Common red clover 12 



Alsike clover 12 



Crimson clover 15 



Alfalfa 20 '• 



Cow peas 90 



Soy beans 90 



Horse beans 90 



Hairy or winter vetch 50 pounds 



Summer vetch 60 " 



Canada peas 90 



Rye 90 " 



Buckwheat 60 " 



Rape 6 " 



Turnips 1 pound 



In the selection of a cover crop there 

 are so many matters to be considered that 

 some of them are likely to be overlooked. 

 The following score card may serve to 

 keep the various points in mind and to 

 give some idea of their relative impor- 

 tance: 



Score Card for Cover Crops 



Chemical influence: 



(a) Addition of plant food 10 



(b) Retention of plant food (that 



used in growth and that saved 

 from washing) 15 



(c) Influence on nitrification 5 



Physical Influence: 



(a) Addition of humus 10 



(b) Mechanical influence (action of 



roots) 10 



(c) Eifect on soil moisture (its in- 



fluence on the retentive power 

 of the soil and its ability to 

 utilize the surplus moisture 

 in late summer and to hold the 

 snow and rain In winter and 

 early spring) 10 



Protective Influence: 



(a) Protection to roots from injuri- 

 ous freezing and thawing (1st, 

 by the growth of vegetation; 

 2nd, by its ability to hold the 



snow and leaves) 10 



(h) Protection to fruit (by serving 



as a cushion for windfalls).... 5 

 General Considerations: 



(a) Adaptability (to soil, climate, 



purpose, etc.) - 10 



(b) Reliability (its ability to pro- 



duce a good cover under vary- 

 ing and adverse conditions).... 10 



(c) Cost of seeding 5 



C. D. Jarvis, 

 Stori's. Conn. 



Canada Field Pea as a Cover Crop in 

 tlie Ro^e River Valley 



The Canada field pea is one of the most 

 promising of the leguminous crops for or- 

 chards — to meet conditions in the Rogue 

 river valley, namely, delayed rains in the 

 fall and the probability that plowing will 

 have to be done in March. 



My experience is limited to a single crop 

 and to a few volunteer plants. I plowed 



