COVER CROPS 257 



absorb plant food that might otherwise leach away. These 

 food elements are stored in the form of plant tissues during 

 the fall and winter and are returned to the trees in the 

 spring after decay begins. 



In orchards upon sloping sites, cover crops prevent 

 washing. They also hold the leaves and snow, and pro- 

 duce a matting over the soil that is often extremely 

 valuable in preventing deep freezing and winter injury. 



Choice of Cover Crops. In some orchards it is desirable 

 to disk the land in the spring, hence a cover crop should be 



Fig. 136. Sweet clover as a cover crop in a cherry orchard. 



used that can be easily worked into the soil at that time. 

 Under these conditions, oats, buckwheat, peas, barley, 

 or turnips are often used. 



When the trees are producing a weak growth, some 

 legume as winter vetch, crimson clover, mammoth clover, 

 peas, or soy beans should be sown. But when the trees 

 are growing too rapidly or making too much wood at the 

 expense of fruit production, these plants should not be used. 

 Rye, oats, or some other non-legume should be grown. 



M. AND H. PLANT PROD. I/ 



