13 



orchard. Of the second group, peas and barley sown together are 

 shown in Figs. 1 1 and 12, soy bean, Fig. 13, and the cow peas, Fig. 14. 

 It is a well settled fact that a rapidly growing cover crop, in a 

 very dry time, may seriously injure the growth of the trees, and it is 

 therefore important that such crops should be planted at a time when 

 the trees are not growing rapidly or have nearh completed their 

 growth, i. e., during the latter part of summer and through the fall, 

 and before much growth of the trees is made in the spring. It may 

 be said of these two groups that with the first no injury caji come 

 from the too rapid evaporation of moisture except in the fall, and that 

 the ground will be protected from loss of moisture during the spring 

 by the dead cover crop lying on the surface, and also that the land 

 can be fitted in the spring with the wheel harrow at any time before 

 tree growth has advanced much without any risk', while with the sec- 

 ond, as there is some danger of serious loss of moisture in the spring, 

 the crop must be turned under before it has made much growth and 

 this work must be done with the plow, the wheel harrow not being 

 heavy enough to cover it. The cover crops, about i acre each, rep- 

 resented by the above plates, were planted August loth, broadcasted 

 and harrowed in to a well prepared seed bed. the quantity of seed 

 and cost being as follows : 



Plot No. I, Figs. II & 12, Canada Peas, i 1-2 bu. per acre, cost. $2.10 



Barley, i 1-2 bu. per acre, cost, $i-5o $3.60 



Plot No. 2, Fig. 9, Red Clover, 10 lbs. per acre, cost, $1.30 



Crimson Clover, 8 lbs. per acre, co.st, .96 $2.26 



Plot No. 3, Fig. 10, Hairy Vetch, i bu. per acre, cost, $700 



Plot No. 4, Fig. 14, Cow Peas, 2 bu. per acre, cost, $4.80 



Plot No. 5, Fig. 13, Soy Bean, 2 bu. per acre, cost, $570 



The soil of the plots is a strong clay loam filled with small stones 

 and having a hard-pan subsoil, naturally good grass land, but hard 

 to cultivate. 



In plot No. I. Fig. 12, the growth was heavy, holding the snow 

 well and furnishing a most thorough protection to the ground from 

 cold and washing. 



Plot No. 2, Fig. 9. The clovers of both kinds made a good catch 

 with a growth of about three inches and served the purpose of pre- 

 venting washing of the soil, but offered no protection from frost and 

 did not hold the snow. Unless this crop is allowed to grow con- 

 siderably next spring the amount of organic material to be turned 

 under will be very small. It is yet too early to determine whether 

 the crimson clover will prove hardy here or not. 



Plot No. 3, Fig. 10. The growth in this plot was much greater 

 than in the last, being about 8 inches high and well matted, so as 

 to cover the land well but not to hold much body of snow. This 

 crop starts early in the spring and should supply a good bod}'^ of 

 organic matter rich in nitrogen to turn under earlier than the 

 clovers. 



Plot No. 4, Fig. 14. This crop made the smallest growth of all, 



