Vetch for Cover. 195 



latitude were the Black and Whippoorwill. The lat- 

 ter fruited also at Lansing, Michigan, in 1887. It 

 will be seen that there appears to be a difference 

 between samples of the same variety coming from 

 different sources. The Black pea from North Caro- 

 lina seed matured well, but that from Louisiana 

 stock was too late. The same difference occurred 

 in the Clay. This is what might have been ex- 

 pected, and it emphasizes the importance of securing 

 seed from the northernmost station, when choosing 

 stock for growing in the north. On the whole, 

 the Black cow pea seems best adapted to growing 

 in central New York. A small patch of this was 

 sown on a rich, loose soil July 17, and the plants 

 made as heavy growth as those sown upon the clay 

 soil nearly a month earlier. But the cow pea af- 

 fords so much less winter protection to the soil 

 than the vetch, without any counterbalancing ad- 

 vantages, that it can scarcely be recommended for 

 an orchard cover in the north." Upon mellower 

 and moister lands, however, good results have fre- 

 quently been obtained with cow peas in the northern 

 states, and they are growing in favor. 



The use of the vetch or tare as a cover plant 

 was brought forward by the Cornell Station,* and 

 reported upon in 1892, as follows : "Orchard lands 

 are nearly always benefited by some cover or mulch 

 during a part of the year, especially during fall 

 and winter. One of the values of sod lies in the 

 protection to the soil, but a sod cannot be obtained 



*Bull. 49, Cornell Exp. Sta., 1882. 



