Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-20
COVER CROPS.
Different Combinations That May Be Used-Correct Proportions of Rye.


 Many have cultivated their orchards this year, and the time has arrived when some cover crop seed should be sOWn. One of the principal reasons for sowing cover crops is. to have a cover nthe soil which will prevent wash ing over the winter This seed will take up available plant food and moisture in the soil from now on, thus encouraging the trees to stop growing and permitting them to harden up sufficiently before cold weather sets in so that they will be able 10 stand the strain of the win ter. The cover crops gather and hold leaves and snow, thus preventing so much alternate freezing and thawing of the soil. LleguminOu5 cover crops obtain nitrogen from the air and add it to the soil when they are plowed under. It is thought that rape and turnip make more readily available the potash which is already in the soil. Cover crops save much available plant food which, not being used by the trees, ordinarily would leach away. Cover crops are pIowed under the fol- lowing spring, and the decay makes available much more quickly the plant food in the soil at a period when trees can Use it.
 There are a, great many different COVer-Cr0p combinations, but it seems to be Sfmmering down in many sec
 
 or hairy vetch for the Iegume, which is used in connection with oats, buck wheat or rye. It is always advisable to use a leume with a common crop. A rye and VetCh combination is very good. The only drawback is that vetCh seed is expensive, and Vet1h does not have time to make a big growth in the spring when many farmers desire to blow it under. If the vetch can be al- lowed to remain into May or early June, it becomes very large and adds a lot of humus to the soil as well as nitrogen.
 Rye and crimson clover is perhaps as good 8 combination as any. It does, however, require a very good seedbed- Crimson clover is likely to winter-kill, but it makes a very good growth the first season if the seed is sown at this time of year. In either combination, rye should be used at the rate of 1 1-4 bushels per acre, with Vetch at the rate of 20 pounds to the acre, and crimson clover at the rate of 15 pounds. If one wishes, and has seed on hand, it is possible to substi- tute buckwheat for the rye. Many people in the country use oats and barley in their peach orchards and berry fields. Oats are especially de- sirable in the berry fields, as it is always sure to winter kill, whereas rye is not and buCkWheat will re- seed. Peach growers should swing more toward the legumes, however than they have in the past. The league last year suggested the use of crimson clover and turnips in a com bination in the berry fields. Both lived over winter last year and have proved a bad pest this year. There fore it will be necessary to use oats and peas for the berry field cover crops this year. One busheI of each should be used per acre.
 Tn using COW horn turnips and dwarf Essex rape in apple or peach 1 orchards, two pounds of COW horn turnips or four pounds or rape, or one half of each should be used per acre All who use legunes this year for the
 first time would do well to get in touch with the league, and obtain in- Oculating material. as tsgumes will do much better the first season grown in Q new locality if the seed is well in- ocuiaHed. All should see to it that the orchards are sown to cover crops as soon as possible.