224 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



to show that not only is alfalfa not a detriment when 

 grown among fruit trees, but in many ways it is a posi- 

 tive benefit, lending itself and its properties to the advan- 

 tage of the trees. 



"On land where moisture can be found at from six to 

 ten feet from the surface, the congeniality of the alfalfa 

 plant and the apple tree becomes apparent. Both need 

 plenty of water the first year, a little less the sec- 

 ond, and very little or none thereafter. 



"After trees become old enough to bear and need all 

 the land between them, and that fertilized and renovated, 

 alfalfa may be used as a food gatherer and distributer. 

 It pushes down into the lower strata, bringing up min- 

 eral elements, captures nitrogen from the air through its 

 root processes, and brings all together near the surface, 

 thus giving to the trees the food they need to fill up and 

 mature fruit. Nor is this all. The alfalfa falling on the 

 ground makes a soft cover upon which windfalls may 

 drop with little bruising; it so occupies the soil as to 

 allow no foul growth to creep in; it does away with the 

 work of weeding or cultivating, and keeps the surface 

 cool and porous, furnishing excellent pasture for hogs 

 if the trees are protected. It would be possible, of course, 

 in this system of co-operation between fruit trees and 

 alfalfa to secure a crop of hay or seed during the off 

 years for fruit, but whether this would prove profitable 

 may be questioned. Orchards growing under the condi- 

 tions described have produced magnificent crops of fruit 

 which, for size, quality and coloring, is seldom equaled." 



