APPLES 
used, but these will not be considered in 
our discussion, because I] do not favor 
the growing of any c1iop im the oichard 
that competes with the trees for moisture 
and plant food, unless in so doing they 
put more into the orchard than they take 
out The leguminous plants are preferred 
because they gather nitrogen from the air 
and deposit it in the soil The rotting of 
the top adds humus, and the decaving of 
the roots improves the soil. 
Needs of Soil Considered 
The kind of crops that should be grown 
depends largely on the character of the 
soil For instance, a sandy soil that has 
little or no humus would be greatly im- 
proved by the growing of some crops that 
would add plant food. We have seen sandy 
soils on which nothing would grow but 
sand burrs. After these had rotted for 
a few years and been mixed with the 
surface soil the character of the soil was 
changed and then grass and vegetables 
could be grown. <Any of these soils, in 
the sandy or voleanic ash regions, in an 
arid or semi-arid climate, will be greatly 
improved by a mixture of vegetable mat- 
ter. Other soils are rich in humus and 
could scarcely be improved by the addition 
of more, therefore leguminous crops are 
not needed for the humus which they 
will deposit in this kind of soil; yet the 
soil might be improved by the nitrogen 
which they would deposit, for generally 
where there is a large amount of humus 
there has been a large amount of rainfall 
which has washed out of the soil many 
of the substances that are necessary for 
the production of the best fruits. 
Why Cover Crops Are Grown 
Perhaps it is well to consider the rea- 
sons why cover crops are grown and then 
each one may decide for himself what 
crop is best adapted to his circumstances: 
First: They are grown to check the 
growth of the trees in the late summer 
and autumn so that they will mature their 
wood sufficiently to endure the cold freez- 
ing of the winter without being winter- 
killed. 
Second: They are grown to Keen the 
soil from washing or leeching away by 
the autumn, winter and spring rains. 
247 
This is especially important where there 
1S much rain during the winter season, 
and where the land is uneven or hilly. 
Third They are grown to add humus 
to the soil, and this, as we have already 
shown, is very important for soils of a 
certain character. 
Fourth: They are grown to add nitro- 
gen to the soil. A chemical analysis of 
soils made by the experiment station will 
show what any particular soil needs. 
Fifth. They are grown to break up 
the hard subsoil so that the roots of the 
trees may have a larger extension from 
which to draw plant food 
Sixth: They are grown to aerate the 
soil, lead the water down to a greater 
depth and thus make a larger amount 
of plant food available. 
Seventh: It is now claimed that these 
leguminous crops, especially alfalfas and 
clovers, are the best curatives for what 
is called apple rosette, a disease that 
is attacking the trees in some sections 
of the country (See Rosette.) 
Much, therefore, depends on the char- 
acter of the soil and other conditions as 
to what should be grown, and much de- 
pends on the intelligence and good judg- 
ment of the grower as to the degree of 
success that may be reached by the grow- 
ing of such crops. For instance, if there 
is a hard substratum that needs to be 
broken up in order that the roots of the 
trees may penetrate more deeply, alfalfa 
is doubtless the very best leguminous 
crop, because it has the largest, the most 
vigorous root system of any of the legu- 
minous plants, penetrating sometimes to 
a depth of 20 feet below the surface. In 
loose, deep, gravelly or sandy soils the 
breaking up is not necessary; and some- 
thing with a smaller root system would do 
just as well as alfalfa and perhaps have 
a larger top system and therefore fur- 
nish more humus. Where humus is 
needed and not the breaking up of the 
subsoil, clover or vetch would be better 
than alfalfa. 
Removing the Crop 
The question is often askéd, “Is it per- 
missible to cut the hay or pasture the 
orchard, if cover crops are grown?” I 
