28 CLEARING 
in nitrogen. The best time to make good the deficiency 
is at this stage, before any tree-planting is done, and the 
best means of supplying the nitrogen is to sow clover, 
preferably red clover. Through the bacteriological 
activity set up in and by means of the roots of the clover, 
nitrogen is abstracted from the atmosphere and com- 
municated to the soil in a form in which it can be readily 
assimilated by the young fruit-trees. Theoretically 
this is beyond all question the best plan to folow— 
namely, to sow red clover in the late summer or early 
fall, and plough it in the following spring or early summer. 
After that plant your young fruit-trees. In actual prac- 
tice, however, the course of procedure is in the vast 
majority of cases different. On the small holdings which 
nearly all the fruit districts in British Columbia alike 
favour men plant as they clear, an acre or two at a time. 
It is in most cases a matter of vital necessity to obtain 
a revenue as early as possible from the young orchard, 
and to that end time is of the utmost importance. Accord- 
ingly, most men plant their trees first and then sow the 
clover. 
Instead of red clover, some practical men of consider- 
able experience recommend that alfalfa or hairy vetches 
be grown. But these crops, too, must be ploughed in as 
soon as may be, even though a second sowing may have 
to be made. 
Some Rzesvutts.—The cheapest clearing that has been 
brought to my knowledge was done for $15 per acre, but, 
unfortunately, I do not know exactly what it consisted 
of. In some parts of the Okanagan, where the timber is 
very light, clearing has been done at $25 to $50 per acre. 
