Cultivation of the Orchard 161 



The benefits of a leguminous cover-crop as grown in the 

 West (alfalfa most common) are as follows: (1) supplies 

 nitrogen and humus — both limiting factors in the western 

 desert soils which have been reclaimed by irrigation ; (2) is 

 thought to have beneficial effect in controlling apple-rosette, 

 a physiological disease somewhat common in the West ; (3) 

 provides a source of income — usually two cuttings of hay 

 are removed, the third being left. Whether this is the 

 best practice remains to be proved. Some investigators 

 maintain that the taking of two cuttings of hay removes 

 too much nitrogen. Much depends on what disposition is 

 made of the hay : whether it is fed and returned in form 

 of manure or sold off the farm ; (4) improves texture of 

 soil; (5) promotes aeration of subsoil after plants are 

 killed and the roots decay; (6) permits of deeper penetra- 

 tion of the roots. 



Disadvantages of leguminous shade-crop system may be 

 summed up as follows: (1) shade-props may rob trees of 

 water -and other plant-food; alfalfa is particularly a close 

 feeder, likely to crowd young trees; it should be grown 

 only where water supply is ample and strip cultivation is 

 practiced among young trees; (2) alfalfa if once started 

 is difficult to eradicate; (3) in some regions, particularly 

 in the East, alfalfa is costly, and difficult to start. 



With alfalfa as a perennial cover-crop, soil management 

 includes a thorough discing in the spring. Time of seed- 

 ing varies with the region and should follow established 

 precedent. In passing from clean cultivation to 'shade 

 crops, the western apple-grower may swerve to the other 

 extreme and allow alfalfa or other crops to remain in his 

 orchard too long. Clover lends 'itself to short rotations 

 better than alfalfa, although it is less profitable. In any 



