200 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



well as to prevent the possibility of the crop appropriating 

 food and moisture to the detriment of the trees. There 

 would also be more danger of injury from small vermin and 

 grasshoppers; the latter pest would probably have to be 

 reckoned with in the young orchard in any event. 



One must take pains to see that the irrigating furrows 

 are kept open, not allowing them to become choked with 

 vegetation. Provision must be made that water may be 

 as judiciously distributed as though the land were bare. 

 The trees should always receive first consideration; do 

 not allow the prospects of a few jags of hay to warp judg- 

 ment when it comes to a question of the health of the trees. 



Whether or not it will be advisable to remove any of the 

 crop for hay must be determined for each orchard. When 

 the land has been badly impoverished, or is in poor physi- 

 cal condition, all of the growth should be returned to the 

 land. 



If it is found that the continued use of legumes is fur- 

 nishing too much nitrogen, as will be indicated by a rank 

 growth, then a change should be made; rye or buckwheat 

 may be used instead. The kind of plant that will be best 

 adapted for use as a shade-crop is yet to be determined, 

 and it is likely that different soils and different localities 

 will demand different things. 



Red clover is at present most in favor in the arid regions 

 among the few who have tried any crop at all. A number 

 of orchards have recently been planted to clover, and the 

 results are very satisfactory. It has made an excellent 

 growth, even close to the trunks of the largest trees 

 (Fig. 56). 



Winter vetch has been used to some extent, and it 



