The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1910-12-14
ORCHARD COVER CROP
Benefit to Be Derived by Growth
of Plants Between Trees.
n Fertility Of Soils 10 Kept Up Loss
Of Plant Food Must Be Replaced
by Stable Manure or by
Vegetable Growth.

The subject of cover crops in both
the young and the old orchards is re-
ceiving more attention than ever be-
fore. There is no question but that
nearly all orchards. particularly in the
arid districts, might be benefited by
the growth of certain plants between
the trees, writes K. R. Bennett in
Desert Farmer. In order to under
stand the necessity for cover crops,
and the way they benefit the land. 1t
is necessary to understand how
plants grow.
The growth of plants that comes
from the soil does not come from the
soil particles themselves. but from
the soluble plant food that is mixed
with the soil. In speaking of soil in
this connection we mean the particles
of rock of which the soil is composed.
A large part of this plant food that
is mixed with the soil is the result of
decayed vegetable matter. Our soils
are naturally deficient in this vege-
table matter. and by constant Guilt
walton what little fiber was in the
soil is being broken down and turned
into plant food. or oxidized. or. as We
say, burned out.
II We are to keep up the fertility Of
our soils. we must either replace this
loss by adding stable manure to the
soil or by blowing in some vegetable
matter. This would seem compare
lively easy. for nearly any one can
SOW a grain crop. or some Of the hay
crops in the orchard in the spring
and pillow them in the fall.
We cannot recommend this system.
however. for we must remember that
tree growth takes place between early
spring and the middle OF July. or at
least tree growth should cease in
July. For this reason the trees should
be allowed to take up all the plant
food that is made available during
the growing season.
There is considerable tendency in
the irrigated districts for trees to
make growth later than this. and as
result go into winter with immature
or soft tissue. This is largely be-
cause our conditions are, to a great
extent. unnatural. In the natural
state the trees become more or less
affected by drought during July and
August SO that in the east the growth
Of trees naturally stops at the right
time. Where water and cultivation
are both given duriny the entire sea
son this condition is reserved. Con-
sequently. our cover crops should be
growing during the late summer and
early fall months.
Many people have said that this
could not be done. Yet. the writer
has seen some OF the finest cover
crops the last few days that were
sown in July of last year
We believe that. where water is
available. a cover crop may be sown
during July. and made to grow dur
ing the fall months. so as to protect
the soil from the hot sun OF late sum
mer and the drying winds OF winter.
and then be plowed early in the
spring 30 as to be n great advantage
to the orchard. In fact. we believe
this system. II followed. would soon
increase our orchard growth and de-
crease the tendency toward winter
killing of trees.
Few experiments have been made
III hhc hhiBhtcu uistfiCt1, 30 tuht W0
are not sure as to which will prove
the better plant for this purpose.
but We believe that the red. or June
clover is going to be as satisfactory
as anything that has SO far been used.
Where this is to be used. the ground
should be disked. the seed sown at
the rate Of from eight to twelve
pounds an acre. then the ground
should be lightly narrowed and irri-
gated.
In some cases It may be desirable
to SOW oats and rye with the clover
to stop the growth of the trees dur
ing the fall months. The clover crop
may be left in old orchards for a year
or two with profit. but for the young
orchard we think this would be detri-
mental as the trees. as we have said
before. need clean culture during the
early part of the season.