Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-07-15
Legumlnous Crops Fertilize Trees,

The growing of leguminous crops for
orchard fertilizers should be more gen.
orally practiced than at present.
have grown such crops in my or
chard for several years with remarkably
pleasing results, as il has remained in
the very best physical condition. The
details of the growth, cultivation and
utility of legumes are subjects for study
and consideration. Their, roots pene
trate deeply into the soil, making IL
more porous and decompose more OF
less OF the hardest substances with
which they come in contact. The roots
also support bacteria which have the
power to change the free nitrogen OF
the air into plant food. The thick cpl
dermis of the leaves prevents rapid evsp-
oration from their surfaces, the heavy
foliage, shading the ground and check
ing the loss of moisture by the direct
action of the sun and wind, at the same
time keeping the temperature OF the soil
at low point through the hot months
better than il clear cultivation was used
The cowpes is the more generally
known aud different methods OF cultiva'
ton are practiced. The common plan
here in Illinois is to plow the land, har,
row it once or twice aud plant the seed
with a wheat drill or double row with
corn planter. Sometimes the seed is
sown broadcast on freshly plowed land
and narrowed in. But | have found
that there is always some of the seed
lost by this method in dry time.
1t has been my experience that better
results are obtained by thorough prep
aration of the seed bed, then planting
in rows about thirty inches apart anc
cultiyating shallow, keeping the surface
level until they shade the ground.
liz will be noticed that the difference
in yield is more marked on poor than on
land well supplied with bumus. Ever
then the seed saved and the benefit Z
the soil of good cultivation are wortf
taking into consideration.
II this method of planting is practiced
one bushel of seed will be sufficient 10
four acres. The seed should not D.
planted until the ground is in condition
to germinate it without delay.
1t should be remembered that the COW
pea is from a warm climate and the seet
will decay sooner than corn in a cool
damp soil. In ground that has bee'
settled by rain, the roots OF the plant
are deprived more or less of the benefit
from the air circulating through the sui
face of the soil. The air should pene
trate the soil. II is essential to To
best development of the plant and to tn
life of the bacteria which collect thi
free nitrogen.
For this and other reasons, land tha
crusts over or bskes after rain shoul
be cultivated before the crust forms an
the surface kept loose. =.
find that the most profitable result
will be obtained from the crop by pastul
ing Il with sheep or hogs. The fertilit
removed by the stocks amounts to little
in fact, the most valuable elements
fertility for the orchard, potash an
phosphoric acid, are nearly all LETT Q
The stock. I mention potash and pho
nhoric acid as the most valuable-this
and 70 be the case when leguminor
crops are grown for fsrtilizing the o
chard.
m the crop cannot be psstured and Il
vines are likely to interfere with ha
vesting a crop of fruit, IL will be nece
sarv 10 roll or break them down,
which shape they make a good wint
mnlch. Then the following spring tn,
can bs plowed under or worked into u
soil with disk harrow.
TIE soy bean requires much the san
treatment as the eowpes. It's uprig
/ growth makes 1t . good crop to gro
} Shsre the vines Of the cowpea are obje
. ,,onable. IL will produce more see
which is richer In protein, fats and .
than the cowpea. =.
, One objection I have to the soy os
is, when ripe, the seed pop OUT .ro" ~ !
: sffsct of the hot sun. However, 20
ma,tsrs little when used as q fertiliz'
,rha sssd should not be planted deep, {
peciaIly iu hot weather. For psss1rl
/, ia better to plant in rows, for the no
and a. d sheep sheep viii walk between the the 70. so'
eating from either side, and not sS..,.S ors
J. down the plants as when oroadca''sd'