150 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



we are trying to attain the best results in our orchards by 

 making nature work for us. 



Discussion. 



A Member: If crimson clover is planted after the last cul- 

 tivation, what effect does it have on the plants, driving a 

 horse and team over it, while harvesting the crop? 



Mr. Derby : No appreciable effect. 



A Member: Not with a heavy team handling the crop? 



Mr. Derby : No sir. 



A Member: You don't mention rye as a cover crop? 



Mr. Derby: I don't want to; it doesn't add anything of 

 value to the soil. 



A Member: One time I had a crop of rye just about ready 

 to plough under, and a gray-headed farmer came along and he 

 said the same things as you did — I wouldn't give a cent for that 

 rye to plough under. He says that grows from the soil, and 

 takes from it all it puts back in it, and then if you plough 

 it under you are putting back just what it has taken from the 

 soil. But wdien you come to figure out and find that 95 per 

 cent, of that rye came from some other source than the soil, 

 you are putting back something that didn't come from the 

 soil. 



Mr. Derby : I suppose rye will do if we haven't anything 

 better, but why use a plant whose character is so inferior to' 

 several other plants we have ? There are other legumes that 

 may be used in the same way as crimson clover, but our use 

 of the crimson clover has demonstrated it is the best food of 

 anything for our soil, and I want to say, if I didn't say it 

 before, that I am talking about Delaware not Connecticut. 

 You have got to fit things to suit your conditions. 



A Member : I understood you to say that the soil was rather 

 of a lime and clayey nature in one part of Delaware, and I 

 would like to inquire at what stage of the growth of the 

 clover you plough it under? 



Mr. Derby : In northern Delaware there is a broken-down 

 granite formation, a very heavy soil, and it is a compact soil, 

 and it seems that the bacteria on the crimson clover plant in 

 such a compact soil don't get to work as early as they do 



