Semi-weekly herald., 1910-05-26

or In other words. the Surface soil y
made deeper by these roots working
around in The sub-soil. loosening il up
and adding hunus.
The most important OF cover crops
which gather nitrogen from the air are
he cioyers But it is hardly neces-
sary to mention any of these, except
Alsyke, which VIII thrive on land that
Is too Sour" or too wet for other
clovers. Ut should be mixed with
other hay when fed TO stock)
While in the west we noticed few
orchards sown in clover, and for par.
iIal cultivation they plowed strip
and left strip. The strip left thus
became seeder for the strip turned
under, causing fairly good cultivation.
Cow peas are next in Importance
regarding which The Fruit Grower
says:
Regarding cover crops for the mid.
die west we agree with you that moth
ing is better than COW peas, except
that lots of orchards are on hills so
steep that It will not do TO give them
cultivation in early spring during the
rainy season. We think that very soon
we shall have 10 adopt plan of cult
waiting two rows and leaving the next
TWO rows in clover and alternating this
treatment"
The higher elevations and more
northern states are not adapted to COW
peas, but our plant breeders will doubt
less give us harder varieties suited TO
these conditions. Glover can be used
adyantageously, but perhaps it is not
the ideal crop for localities where in.
tensive cultivation is practiced
Hairy Vetch is probably one of the
best crops suited 10 these methods.
Intensive, clean culture can be given
until midsummer; vetch can then be
sown and turned under the following
spring On the subject of hairy vetch.
Agrostologist f. Lamson Soribner, in
1885, reported:
Hairy vetch sown in autumn will
cover the ground and prevent washing
during the winter. 1t is one OF the
manure. DO not commence to feed
hairy Yetches until they have begun TO
bloom. Like most Of the bean and
clover family they are somewhat diu.
retic If fed in large quantities before
mature. Use caution in feeding until
the animals have become accustomed
10 the change of feed"
We have found Canadian peas most
desirable in the Genesee valley of New
York. They are also used largely in
New Mexico. This is great crop
for fattening lambs and hogs. and here
is suggestion that may be of some
value 10 the west: grow Canadian peas
as a crop for fattening sheep and hogs,
thereby producing at home a valuable
fertllizer--one of the most effective
methods OF supplying the hunus re
quired by western soils.
II is lamentable fact that such
gold mine is not worked on every
farm and orchard This is true of all
localities, but particularly so of the
lands like those in the Ozaks which
are naturally deficient in humus. tCow
peas make a iuXuriaDt growth in this
section.) They have the altitude and
nearly everything except the humus.
yet through neglectfulness or ienor-
ance the growers do not strive TO build
up their soil. Many farmers do not
seem TO know where 10 get COW peas.
Seedsmen do not realize the Import.
ance of selling them As au exam,
pie. the Ozark country at rho present
writing. is burned up with drouth /;
yet wherever cow peas have been
planted they are green and not only
| making hay but fine pastures. enhanc-
ing the value OF the land and increas'
ing the fertility
There are numerous varieties of COW
peas adapted to different orchard re.
| gions. Occasionally COW peas are fol.
| lowed with crop of corn. During
the last cultivation of the corn, more
peas or hairy vetch are sown, Vetch
supplies fine crop for plowing under
in the spring and also becomes a prof
liable pasture crop for hogs when theii
age and size win permit pasturinp
without injury to young trees. Peas
may be utilized the same way.
The growth of Spanish peanuts ir
young orchards is worthy of trial.
Velvet beans are adapted 10 con
ditions further south, where the sea
son is long enough to mature the
crop.
Speaking of some personal expert
ences with cover crops, my son and
have a 200-acre orchard, closely plant
ed, at Rolla, Missouri, in the hear
of the Ozark country. There for si'
years we have made study OF cove
crops in commercial way and hav,
kept in close touch with experimental
work at various stations. It is on
opinion that 10 Il great extent, the bar
rem condition of orchards is due to i'm
poyerished and starved conditions o