58 



HOME FRUIT GROWER 



season opens a week or more earlier and killing frosts occur four or five 

 weeks earlier in Autumn. 



COVER CROPS 



In home fruit growing as in commercial practice many advantages 

 may be gained by sowing certain kinds of crops not to be harvested, 

 gathered for family use or for live stock, but solely to benefit the 

 trees. Cover crops, as these are called, since they are sown between 

 Midsummer and early Fall to cover the soil from then until Spring, 

 perform various functions. They protect the soil on slopes from 

 being washed by rains. Because of the time they are sown they seize 

 upon already soluble plant food that might otherwise be lost during 

 Autumn or Winter in the drainage, or be washed over the land by 

 rains and melting snow. They return this food, together with their 

 own tops and roots, when they decay, after being plowed under in the 

 Spring. When they decay they also increase the water holding 

 capacity of the soil. 



When Crimson Clover, Hairy Vetch and other legumes are grown 

 much nitrogenous material is added to the soil, because through the 

 aid of certain bacteria these plants have the ability to utilize nitrogen 

 contained in the air. 



Land protected by cover crops is slower to freeze in the Fall, 

 the freezing is shallower than on uncovered land and the thawing in 

 Spring is quicker in consequence. Hence also roots of tree and bush 

 fruits are less injured by the effects of Winter-heaving and settling. 



By adding vegetable matter 

 through the decay of cover crops, 

 clayey soils become easier to work and 

 may be worked earlier in the Spring, 

 sooner after rains and during a longer 

 period; moreover, their tendency to dry 

 and bake is lessened and their water- 

 holding capacity increased. In all cases 

 where the physical condition of the 

 soil is improved the tree roots can 

 penetrate farther in search of food and 

 water and thus insure better growth, 

 health and productivity of the fruit 

 plants. 



About the only disadvantage in 

 using cover crops, more especially the 

 legumes, to excess is that the soil may 

 become so filled with moisture-holding 



Fig. 31. Well made cuts, 

 stubs left 



No 



