57 



(11) It is desirable to select crops which have the same fertil- 

 izer and tillage requirements as the trees under culture. Cabbage, 

 for example, is not a desirable crop to grow in peach orchards, be- 

 cause it requires more nitrogen than is required by peach trees. 

 On the other hand, there could be little objection to the growing 

 of this crop in apple orchards, provided the soil is well filled with 

 humus. The moisture requirements for certain inter-tillage crops 

 is perhaps the most serious objection to their use. Cabbage, for ex- 

 ample, contains ninety-eight and a half pounds of water, and unless 

 the water absorbing and holding power of the soil is great the trees 

 may suffer on account of lack of moisture. This difficulty, however, 

 can be overcome by supplying humus in sufficient quantity and by 

 early and frequent tillage. 



(12) Companion crops which make their growth and require 

 tillage early in the season are the most suitable for the orchard. 



(13) The duration of growth or time of harvesting is also im- 

 portant. The successful management of orchards requires the 

 maintenance of vegetable matter and those crops which can be har- 

 vested and sold before the proper time to sow cover crops are, other 

 points being equal, the most desirable. Peas, early cabbage and 

 early potatoes meet this requirement. 



(14) Companion crops should be selected if possible which 

 permit thorough tillage and as late in the season as may be best for 

 the welfare of the trees. This matter can be controlled to a con- 

 siderable extent by allowing a liberal amount of space between the 

 rows. 



15. The net profits from companion cropping should be the main 

 factor in deciding as to what crops should be grown provided the 

 cultivation of such crops is entirely favorable to the growth of the 

 trees. The skillful management of crops which require starting un- 

 der glass, as early cabbage and early tomatoes would certainly re- 

 turn larger profits per acre than potatoes although the growing and 

 harvesting of the crops would require much more attention. 



Directions For Growing Companion Crops. 



Szveet Corn, and especially the early varieties may be grown 

 with entire success in young orchards without detriment to the trees. 

 By planting the early varieties in thoroughly drained soils wdiich have 

 been well enriched by the plowing down of clover sods and the ap- 

 plication of manure along with high grade fertilizer, the crop would 

 be harvested in ample time to start cover crops. Some of the best 

 varieties for this purpose are Crosby, White Cob Corry, Premo. 

 Fordhook First and Golden Bantam. Later varieties may be grown 

 with entire success, but the crop is harvested rather late for sowing 

 cover crops. 



SniaU Fruits may be used as companion crops in orchards, but 

 are undesirable because they require tillage later in the season than 

 is favorable to starting cover crops. I see no reason, however, why 

 the bush fruits could not be grown in the orchards of Adams County, 

 using each year a legume as cow peas which would be killed by frost 

 and which add materially to the supply of vegetable matter. Soy 

 beans are better adapted to clay soils. They made a much larger 



