Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-04-20
Orchard Shade Crops.

tlvation. Clean cultivation versus
rotational ahnde OF crop has been
tried IN Colorado and the results were
IN favor Of the shade crop rotation
IN the east, cover CROPS ara used
whicn means tile sowing OF the seed
In Lass summer and the blowing under
Of the green manure crop che next
spring Or IN the early summer our
conditions are such shat this method
does not work well, the greatest
trouble being that the spring plOWing
under q great mass OF green mater
ial interfercs greatly with the FIRST
summer irrigation. as Il sometimes
causes the soil 10 puddle thereby
causing the leaves 10 turn yellow. By
shade crop h meant the sowing OF the
seed ln the spring Of tae year. thus
shading the soil during The summer
from the sun, and tho blowing under
of the green crop either the following
fall. depending on whether an annual.
biennial or perennial crop Is grown.
Nearly all the Colorado orchard
soils are very poor ia numus content
and this il ihe principal reason why
they are 80 poor physically, that il.
they are hard TO work when Il comes
20 irrigation and cultivation. Such
soils do not take water readily nor do
tley hold Il after they have been irril
stated. Humus In the soil will do
away 10 a certain extent with these
troubles and can be obtained by the
blowing under OF barnyaFd manure.
but on account OF the scarcity OF It
the orchardssts will have 20 rely 10
great extent on the growing and the
plowing under OF shade crop.
shade crops are divided into two
classos. viz. leRuminous or non-legu-
mln0us. The losuminous are plants
like alfalfa, cloVcnSF cfc., the nom
lesumes are the grains. ike oats. rye.
barley, etr... Eor. oEehard soils which
I,Qeeeaa - itord undof aoil there "a n,t
plant like alfalfa. TITS 10 not hard
10 handle and II il r. not allowed 20
go TO seed and Is plowed under In The
fail Of the second year. Il "a well
% SOW oats. about ositshaif buahel 20
the acre. with the alfalfa or a nurse
crop. The oats should be cut he
fore they go 20 seed and they can be
harvested for feed. Alfalfa can be
sown later than clover with good re-
suits. aut. as rule. Il Is better to sow
all shade crops In the orchard as early
In the spring as possible. Mammoth
red clover makes very good orchard
shade crop, but sometimes Il "a hard
20 get the clover 20 grow we'll at frst
unless Il has the proper amotnt oil
moisture. This d one reason whyl
clover Is not always a success In peach
orchards, as sometimes the clover re-
the peach trees. In growing anything
Nfs he a.ranl4agA nnH Iaa.qI
that the trees are tha first consldsFa-
ton and the crop OF second import
anco. For this reason, do not over
irrigate the trees to get good stand
Of clover. cts. Winter xetch makes o
good shade crop provided Il Il plowed
under In the fall OF the same year
that u il planted, a. q goes to seed the
second year In midsummer and then
dies. Field peas can DO used IN the
higher attitudes II s0wn very early ia
the spring. The ie' peas should be
dlsced under before they 60 20 seed
For peaches In bearing follow the
field peas with rye or harley. and pillow
the rye or barley under In the fall
Sweet clover should be- treated about
the Same az winter veich.
At present there II no system
worked ont Ia regard "a what kind OIL
shade crops 90 grow or what Kind Of
rotation 90 follow in the management
Of orchard shade crops but no douDl
there ~ a very great need for tho use
OF them IN d great many OF our Col
orado orchards. There - no doubt
that perpetual clean cultivation has
had Ia day and that the sooner some
kind OF shade crop h grown the bet
ter on the soil conditions VIII be ~
s great many orchards.