The Cover on the Land 113 



nursery rows, and in the use of stable manures. There 

 are examples of excellent results following the addition 

 of stable manure to nursery lands between the trees in 

 autumn. One piece of land so treated has grown excellent 

 plum trees for twenty consecutive years. 



COVER-CROPS 



The vegetable matter or fiber may be supplied by 

 herbage plowed under and by the addition of stable 

 manures or similar amendments. We may first consider 

 the growing of herbage for the amending of the land. 



A cover-crop is used for the particular purpose of 

 securing its mulching and physical effect on the land in the 

 intervals between the regular fruit crops or the normal sea- 

 sons of tillage. A sowed crop in the orchard may be valua- 

 ble in two ways : by affording a cover to the land, and by 

 improving the soil when it is plowed in. As a cover, it 

 may keep down weeds and protect the land from injurious 

 effects of frost. As a green manure, it may add fiber to 

 the soil, and thus augment its power of holding fertility 

 and moisture, and it may add directly to the plant-food. 

 This late crop catches and holds the nitrates which the 

 tree-roots utilize earlier in the season. Taken as a whole, 

 the cover-crop may be said to improve the soil as follows : 



1. It protects the land and directly improves its physical 



condition: 



Prevents hard soils from cementing or puddling; 

 Holds the rains and snows until they have time to soak 



away into the land; 

 Holds the leaves from blowing away; 

 Dries out the soil in spring, making early tillage possible; 

 Sometimes serves as a protection from frost; 

 Prevents washing in winter. 

 H 



