APPLES 
fulfill the same purposes, but they do not 
add the same amount of fiber to the soil, 
and they certainly add absolutely noth- 
ing in the way of nitrogen from the air 
During several years I have traveled 
over considerable country, particularly 
the Ozark region of Missouri and Arkan- 
sas, and I may be pardoned for stating 
that the strongest, healthiest, most vig- 
orous growth I saw on these trips was in 
our Rolla orchard thus cultivated. And 
I believe that in a generous use of cover 
crops in orchards throughout the state, 
particularly on the thinner soils, the value 
of the crops may be continually increased. 
Also the life and productive age of the 
orchard materially increased. 
Rye has been used to a limited extent, 
but it has not been so successful a crop 
in the Rolla country as peas, vetch and 
clover. When the trees are getting too 
much nitrogen, the growth is rank and 
succulent; cover crops are just as neces- 
sary but rye or some other non-legumi- 
nous crop should be used. It gives humus 
and protection without adding more nitro- 
gen, and also serves aS a check which 
helps the formation of fruit buds. 
The growing of Spanish peanuts in 
young orchards is worthy of a trial. We 
have also used velvet beans, which we 
believe are adapted to conditions further 
south where the season is longer and 
will mature the crop. 
Needs of Northwest Soils 
During the past season, in company 
with Mr. Irvine, editor of the “Fruit 
Grower,” I visited the orchard regions of 
Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washing- 
ton, and Montana. We made it a point 
to inquire about cover crops. Generally 
our Western friends all admitted that 
they knew little about them and felt 
their need, some had had little experi- 
ence with clover. Their soil, rich in min- 
erals, is often deficient in humus. This 
is one of the greatest problems they have 
to solve, and is one to which they should 
give far more attention. 
There are many forms of mineral plant 
food in the soil which are not available 
to many of our cultivated plants. Even 
under the best conditions they have not 
251 
the power to use them. 
hand, certain of our cover crops can 
digest these less available foods, and 
when they decay leave them in the form 
convenient for other weaker plants. 
On the other 
Work of Deep Rooting Plants 
Many plants cannot work below the 
surface layer of the soil, that is, they can- 
not go down into the subsoil. Subsoil 
contains a large amount of mineral; in 
fact, the surface layer is merely a sub- 
soil to which humus has been added by 
the growing plants. This subsoil is very 
rich in the necessary elements, and it is 
the clovers and other cover crops which 
send down their roots into this subsoil 
and bring to the surface foods which 
other plants cannot reach. They not only 
bring these foods to the surface but the 
roots remain down there and decay. Even- 
tually the subsoil is incorporated with 
the surface soil or, in other words, the 
surface soil is made deeper by these roots 
working around in the subsoil, loosening 
it up and adding humus to it. 
The higher elevations are not adapted 
to the growth of cow peas, but doubtless 
our plant breeders will give us hardier 
strains and varieties adapted to every 
condition. Clover can be used advan- 
tageously, but perhaps it is not the ideal 
crop for these localities where intensive 
cultivation is practiced. The hairy vetch 
is probably one of the very best crops 
suited to such method. Intensive clean 
culture can be given until mid-summer, 
then sowing vetch and turning it under 
the following spring. We have found 
Canadian peas a most desirable cover 
crop in the Genesee valley of New York. 
These peas are also utilized very largely 
in New Mexico. This is a great crop for 
the fattening of lambs and hogs, and 
here is a suggestion that may be of some 
value to the West. Grow these peas as 
a crop for the fattening of sheep and 
hogs, thereby manufacturing at home a 
most valuable brand of fertilizer which 
is one of the most effective methods of 
supplying the humus required by Western 
soils. 
While in the West we noticed a few or- 
chards sown in clover and for partial cul- 
