No. 4.] MARKET GARDENING. 89 



picked from six to eight hundred ears to the row, and the 

 other part did not yield but a little over five hundred. 



Secretary Sessions. How old was that sod? 



Mr. Taber. The seed was sowed the July previous. It 

 is used to cover the ground in the winter and as a manurial 

 crop to turn under. I do not believe it is valuable for hay 

 here, although a great deal is used in Delaware and 

 Maryland. 



Question. How late can you sow it? 



Mr. Taber. Up to the 1st of September, but I would 

 advise sowing it by the middle of July, if possible. It 

 attains a better growth and is better able to withstand the 

 changes of winter and spring. I have it now covering my 

 vineyard from six to ten inches high. In fact, I had to 

 plough my vineyard a little early, because the clover was 

 getting so large I thought I would be unable to turn it 

 under. 



Question. How much do you sow to the acre? 



Mr. Taber. I sow twenty pounds. There is a great deal 

 ot talk about twelve and fifteen, but I have had the best re- 

 sults from increasing the amount. I know Georo-e Powell 

 sows only fifteen pounds, and he has nearly one hundred and 

 fifty acres covered with it now. I would advise sowing it 

 almost everywhere, that is, so as to cover the ground. I do 

 not believe in bare ground for the winter except heavy soil. 



Question. Would you sow it in a young orchard? 



Mr. Taber. Yes ; certainly. There are many advantages 

 from that. A great many are opposed to this work I have 

 done. In my institute work I found many who did not agree 

 with me at all in reference to ploughing in these green crops. 

 They would say that I better cut it ofi* and feed it and use 

 the manure ; but I have persisted in it, and I think I will 

 prove to you that I have been successful. 



Mr. H. W. Foster (of Tewksbury). Would it not be 

 better to plough it in in the fall and have it rot, then, as the 

 ground is heaved by the eflects of the frost, it will be mellow 

 and fine in the spring and everything will be ready for the 

 crop. 



Mr. Taber. I want every particle of my ground covered 

 with something durinij; the winter. It is far better, unless 



