The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-20

AS TO COVER CROPS
IN YOUR ORCHARDS
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
some kind of turning plow will. per
haps. serve the purpose best. One In
using the turning pillow should not run
very deep near the trees, for fear OF
cutting the roots. Also ono should
not throw ridges OF very much
height to the rows. rs is frequently
zone when the turning pillow is used
ihis ridge. IL formed. can de thrown
down by running a disc harrow and
nave the discs set so as to take the
dirt from Instead OF throwing towards
the row.
"A great many of our Southern
farmers SOW rye as n cover crop. on
account OF its hardness. Rye is oh
Jected to by many who have tried IL,
but 1 really think they do SO from
having let IL stand longer in the spring
than was best. If blowing Is delayed
IN the spring, rye makes n rank
growth, and draws the moisture from
the soil to the detriment OF the tree:
but II rye is turned under when IL is
Just shooting up It's flower stems. one
VIII not experience this objection.
When Turning Plow IN hest.
w nat j have said relativa 20 using
the turning plow, may be objected 20
by some. who maintain that the Or.
diary turning plow should not be used
In the orchard, and VINO advocate the
use Of disc harrows. spring-tooth and
othcr cuitivators as the sole impie-
ments. However right this NAV ap-
pear theoretically, In actual practice
most peach orchardists have found /,
necessary to occasionally use the turn
ing piow. and 1t Is rather doubtful
whether the much abused turning plow
Is so objectionable after all when
properly used
WheneVer there Is a larger guam
tity OF weeds or trash or rank cover
crop Of turf to turn under. the ordin-
airy turning plow will be found to be
the most satisfactory Implement that
can be used. When using the turning
piow, good practice is TO first plow
around the trees three or four fur
rows with one-horse pillow. so ar
ranged as to not injure the trees,
either by adjustment of side block
with the clevis, or by having n very
short single-tree, and wrapping the
traces with burlap to prevent the scar
ring OF the bodies of the trees After
these few burrows have been mad.
with one-horse- plow, two-horsc
can be used to plow out the miidles. A
very good tool for blowing the nrsr
Few burrows around tho trees is the
so-callcd California orchard plow
This plow. made in two sizes. with
either three or five discs. with n team
of horses. performs the whole opera
ton at one trip. Great pains should
be taken in blowing the first strip
around the trees TO keep from inIurins
them.
There nre special pIows, called
nursery plows. which have n wide
range of adjustment. and can be
swung to one side or the other OF the
line over which tho horse is driven
These are very convenient. especially
In blowing away from the trees.
las rule. peach orchards should
be plowed very shallow. not over three
or four Inches. and frequently this
will be considered too deep After
the soil has been plowed toward tho
trees. rather dead furrow exists.
Tho best thing then to do Is to begin
promptly with the spring tooth cult
vator. and with the teeth set so deep
Is that they go TO tho full depth OF
the soil AZ turned by the plow."