34 ORCHARD GREEN-MANURE CROPS IN CALIFORNIA. 
The wholesale price of fenugreek seed in the European market is 
from 24 to 3 cents per pound. The price to the grower would of 
course be somewhat in advance of this, but should not exceed 5 or 
6 cents. When 30 pounds of seed per acre are used, this would make 
the cost of seeding from $1.50 to $1.80 per acre. 
Black bitter vetch seed, though not handled in quantity by Ameri- 
can seedsmen, can be secured in foreign markets and imported at a. 
cost that should make the price to the grower about the same or 
less than that of common vetch. When seeding at the rate of 70 
pounds of seed per acre, this would make the cost of seeding from 
$2.40 to $3.50 per acre. As stated elsewhere, the fact that black 
bitter vetch yields a heavy crop of seed in California and has excep- 
tionally good seeding habits should make it possible to place Cali- 
fornia-grown seed on the market at a much less cost than that of 
common vetch. 
SUMMARY. 
California soils, though often very fertile, are generally deficient in 
humus. 
Within recent years green-manure crops in California have been 
given special attention. 
The only places where green manures are being used extensively 
are the citrus and walnut orchards of the southern part of the State. 
Deciduous orchard sections of the State are using practically no 
oreen-manure crop. 
By the use of green manures a generally improved condition of 
orchards has been secured, as shown by a more healthy appearance 
of the trees and more and better fruit. 
The early seeding of green-manure crops 1s desirable for obtaining 
the best results. 
Green manures should be turned under before the trees start new 
erowth in the spring. 
Heavier seeding than is ordinarily practiced is advised. 
Common vetch and field peas are the most generally used green- 
manure crops, the vetch being the most popular. 
Peas or common vetch sown in the fall without irrigation will not, 
except in the most favorable years, make sufficient growth to be 
turned under early as a green manure, but when thus sown will 
make a good growth later in the spring. 
Field peas, common vetch, and bur clover are adapted to quite 
varied conditions, and are being grown in a limited way throughout 
the State. 
In any part of the State having a mild winter a green-manure 
crop of peas or common vetch will succeed if sown early in the fall 
with irrigation. ; 
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