Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-05-18
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/. CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK !.
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i Article VI. y.
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Cover Crops in Orchards.

ciopS. III our OrcnardS Is being more
fully appreciated each year, yet in
some Of the principal fruit districts
Of the South we find many large or
chards where no cover crops have
been planted. The result Is the soil
In these orchards is becoming more
impoverished each year by the leach
ing Of soluble fertilizers, by surface
washing and for want of humus. In
most cases the orchards are located
on the more elevated land, which Is
rolling, with sandy soil and clay
subsoil. On such soil it Is hard to
prevent surface washing entirely, but
1T could be reduced to the minimum
by the proper use of cover crops.
Not only do these cover crops prevent
surface washing, but they utilize the
soluble fertilizers which would other
wise leach out Of the soil. When the
crop Is turned under, 1t adds consid-
cradle humus to the soil and the
fertilizers required to produce it be-
come available for the use OF the
trees
The plants used as cover crops are
OF two distinct .types-leguminous
and non-leguminous plants. The
legumes, such as clover, cowpeas and
vetch, In addition to furnishing hu-
mus, have the power Of collecting
nitrogen from the air and adding this
valuable fertilizer to the soil for the
use or other plants. The n0n-legu-
mlnouS plants, such as rye. oats and
turniDs, do not collect nitrogen from
the air, but when SOwn in the early
fall consume soluble plant food dur
ing their growth, which would other
wise be lost by teaching, and which
Is returned to the soil when the
cover crop is plOwed under in the
spring.
Most soils where orchards are
planted are deficient in both humus
ana nitrogen, and, therefore, a legu-
mlnous cover crop should be selected.
If the trees make sufficient growth
without the use OF nitrogenous ferti-
lfzers then a non-leguminous cover
'crop may be planted
think | am safe In saying, how
ever, that there are few commercial
orchards in the South that are not in
need OF both nitrogen and humus.
TO accomplish our purpose of add
ing nitrogen and humms to the soil,
and to prevent surface washing, we
should have both a winter and sum-
mer cover crop. Rye followed by
cowpeas will give best results on
poor soil. The rye should be sown
IN the early fall in order that it may
cover the ground as soon as possible
and prevent surface washing. The
rye should be turned under not later
than the last Of March. This may be
accomplished by double narrowing
with the disc harrow and this meth
od Is preferable to blowing, as 1t
AVOIDS the danger OF plowing too
deep near the trees. strip of land
slN to ten feet wide between the rows
or trees should be prepared and the
peas sown broadcast about the first
of May. Early in September the
pea vines should be worked into the
soil by means Of disc harrow and
the land can be seeded to rye or
crimson clover.
After one or two crops Of rye and
peas have been worked into the soil
crimson clover or hairy yetch NAV
De sown instead Of rye. Crimson
clover makes an excellent cover crop
from September to May AS soon as
enough seed have ripened to reseed
ltself, the clover should be worked
INTO the soil with a disc harrow. If
the clover Is allowed to occupy all of
the space between the rows of trees
during the months of March and
April, 1T will retard the growth of
trees to some extent and therefore,
thlnk 1T best to turn under the
clover early in March My plan is
TO fertiliZe and cultivate the trees
early In March, leaving a narrow
Str1D OF clover In the middle to reSeed
itself strip two to three feet
vide Will produce enough seed for
the entire middle. After the seed
nave ripened the clover is worked
into the soil with a disc harrow and
the land may be smoOthed and the
seed scattered over the entire middle
by means Of tooth harrow. Hairy
Vetch Is an excellent cover crop, and
may be treated in the same way as
crimson clover. The seed are sown
IN August or September and the crop
worked into the soil In the spring.
If crimson clover or hairy vetch is
10 be planted on land where neither
OF these crops has grown before, It
VIII be necessary to inoculate the
held by securing soil from land
where vetch and clover have preyi-
ously grown. This soil may be scat
tered over the land In the same way
as FERTILIZER, Immediately after SOW
ing the seed, and then mixed with
ne SOIL and seed by means Of a tooth
narrow. Wheat, oats and barley
make good cover crops. but they do
not 'hrive on poor land as we'll as
rye.
In no case should grain be allowed
TO mature in the orchard, as 1t would
rod the trees of moisture and plant
1000 ~ me very time they needed
them most. When a good crop of
cowpeas, Vetch or crimson clover Is
added to the soil! We are nj tho con,o