have therefore a fertilizer value above that of the "tL<-'Ck.*'^-«^ 

 which is a product of their decay. The other class of plants, 

 the non-legumes, simply add humus to the soil together with 

 what plant foods they used in their developement. The 

 condition of the trees should determine which of these plants 

 are to be used. The action of nitrogen is to stimulate the 

 growth of wood at the expense of the fruit. If this is the 

 result desired, then legumes should be used in conjunction 

 with the regular fertilizing system. If, on the other hand, 

 the wood growth is too abundant and should be checked, some 

 one of the non-legumes should be used, 



A number of different plants have been used successfully 

 as cover crops. Ma.mi.;oth and crimson clover have proven good 

 for this purpose as have also winter vetch and cowpeas. 

 These latter are usually sown in Irills two feet apart and 

 at the rate of f to 1 bu. per acre. The young plants are then 

 cultivated to give them a vigorous start. In order to secure 

 uniform covering for the ground, a mixture of rye and vetch is 

 sometimes broadcasted betv/een the rows immediately preceding 

 the last cultication. This combination furnishes a dense 

 carpeting during the winter and makes an early heavy £rowth 

 the following spring by the time the ground should be plowed 

 again. 



In changing from eld sod to cultivation the ground 

 is very hard to work. One of the crops which has the best 

 effects in loosening up the soil and getting it in friable 

 condition is buckwheat. The roots of this plant are pene- 

 trating in their action and strike deep thereby helping to 

 breackup hard, unyielding soil. This should be used as a 



