Kinds of Cover Crops. 191 
cultivated crops are removed, and it is exceedingly 
hardy. Rye may be sown upon the very moment of 
the freezing up of the land, and it will sometimes 
germinate the following spring. It is ordinarily best, 
however, to sow it about a month or six weeks 
before the land is expected to freeze up; and for the 
purpose of securing a cover, not less than one and 
one-half bushels should be sown to the acre when 
orchards are young. When the trees have begun to 
shade the ground, a less quantity will answer. 
Another plant which is sometimes used to begin 
the amelioration of intractable lands is Indian corn, 
sown broadcast very thickly, six weeks or two months 
before killing frost. Although it does not stand 
the winter, it nevertheless affords an excellent cover 
for the land and supplies besides a large amount 
of herbage. 
Buckwheat may be used for the same purpose, 
sown so late in the season that it will reach its 
full height but will not go to seed. There is danger, 
however, of using buckwheat too much, and only 
an occasional crop of it—if any at all—should be 
used upon orchards which are growing upon the hard 
types of lands. 
Turnips and rape are also to be recommended 
in certain cases. Turnips sown late in July in the 
north make a complete cover of the land, and fur- 
nish so much bulk and moisture as to greatly 
improve the character of the soil when they are 
plowed under the following spring. Turnips are 
especially good to begin the process of improve- 
