Corer-crops.
The present-time tillage practice in orchards assumes also a cover-crop. This cover-crop is usu ally grown in late summer and fall, when tillage is least needed. The chief value of the cover-crop is to supply humus, in this regard taking the place of stable manure, which usually cannot be had in quantities for large orchard areas, since stock raising and fruit-growing are not often practiced equally on one farm. In young orchards it is possible to make cover-cropping a part of a rotation plan. [See the article on Cover-crops, page 258.] Almost any quick-growing crop that produces abundant herbage may be used to advantage as a cover. A covering of weeds is often better than bare ground. In general, tillage is given early in the season. By midsummer or early fall, the cover crop is sown, the land then being in good tilth.
Cover-crops are of two main groups, —those that survive the winter and grow again in the spring ; those that are killed by frost. The former are usu ally to be preferred, as they are likely to produce more herbage, and more completely to occupy the land with roots, and they may better prevent deep freezing, washing, and waste of rainfall. The dis advantage is that they delay all the plowing till spring, and there is a temptation to let them grow too late in spring, thereby using too much soil moisture, and reducing the chance of a satisfactory preparation of the land. Some of the frost-killed crops may have greater effect on the land than is to be expected from the mere bulk of the herbage that they produce ; this is particularly true of buckwheat. Following are some of the leading cover-crops mentioned or recommended for fruit plantations (the leguminous or nitrogen-gathering species being starred): When orchards are carrying a full crop, it may be impossible to sow a cover-crop early enough to enable it to make much headway before winter sets in. In such cases, rye is about the only re course, for it may be sown very late, and it will make rapid growth in the earliest days of spring. Even if it does not germinate in the fall, it will probably come up in the spring and do well. A little fertilizer drilled in with the rye usually will cause a great gain in the growth of herbage. Rye will thrive fairly
well even with very indifferent preparation of the land, and therefore is a most useful cover-crop on lands that are not yet well To insure a heavy cover, the seeding 'should he thick. Of some covers, the seed is expensive and often difficult to secure in food quality. The grower may find it good practice to reserve one corner or side of a field for the gathering of seed. This can be readily done with winter vetch, crimson clover and the cereals. Following are aver age quantities of seed to sow per acre for heavy cover-crops in fruit plantations : Alfalfa (20 to 24 lbs. to the acre) is sometimes used as a cover-crop in orchards, being plowed a year from sowing or allowed to remain for a longer period. Vari ous combina tions or mix tures are also used; as mam moth clover 6 1 bs., alfalfa 10 lbs., turnip 2 to 3 oz.; al falfa 6 lbs., crimson c I o ver 6 lbs., al sike clover 3 lbs.,strap-leaf turnip 2 to 3 oz., all sown in midsummer ; cow peas in drills and cultivated, and rye, rape or tur nips added at the last cultivation ; winter vetch 1i bus., rye # bus.; cowpea 1.1, bus., red clover 6 lbs.; oats 2 bus., peas 2 bus.
Fertilizing.
The special needs of fruit-bearing trees and bushes in the way of fertilizers have not yet been worked out. It is probable that practices will he greatly modified when fundamental studies are made. The current advice, given in the publica tions of the past ten years, holds good so far as our knowledges goes. Stable manure is of first importance in most cases, because of its humus forming materials ; when this cannot be had, cover-cropping is all the more necessary. As for commercial fertilizers, the conclusions derived from general-crop studies are applied to orchards. The orchard must be fed liberally if profitable results year by year are to be expected. Because orchards will bear now and then without fertilizing, seems to afford an excuse for not fertilizing. Muriate of potash 200 to 300 pounds, acid phosphate (availa ble) of equal or greater quantity, and nitrate of soda 100 to 200 pounds (or its equivalent in green manures) afford a standard application per acre annually for good orchards in full bearing, when combined with good tillage.