COVER CROPS FOR ORCHARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8101, 29 August 1904, Page 4

COVER CROPS FOR ORCHARDS.

♦>_ — _•■ (Bulletin of the Canadian. Department of Agriculture.) On -May 17 the Dominion fruit inspectors mot in the orchard at the central experimental farm and discussed cover crops. Hie subject was introduced by Mr W. T. Macoun, horticulturist, who gave hi* experience with different pknt3 used for this purpose, and told what he considered wera the principal uses of cover crop?. He said th.it the importance of a covering for the soil in winter wais strongly impressed on him after the winter of 1895-96, when many trees were root killed' at the central experimental farm. Since that time the subject had received much attention from his Department. The main uses of the cover crop are: To bold the snow in winter, and thus protect the roots of the trees ; to furnish vegetable- matter to plough under in spring for the purpose of obtaining humus and nitrogen; and to act as a oatch crop in au- | tumn to prevent leaching of plant food mad* available during th© summer. THE BEST SORTS. He recpmmendeai, as tbe best general practice for growers, cultivating the soil until near about the middle of July, when the '-trees 'have made most of their growth,^ and do not need so much moisture, and then seeding down to common or mammoth red dorer, sown broadcast afc the rate of 121 b per acre, or with hairy vetch, at the rate of 301 b to 40lb per acre. Sown a>t that time, these- plants usually make a good cover crop by autumn. WHEN AND HOW TO SOW. At the central experimental farm, 'hairy vetch was sown on June 18, 1903, in drills 28in apart, at the rate of 201 b per acre. These received two cultivations, and by the end of the first week of August, the plants were meeting between the rowe. By sowing earlier, as in this case, a better stand may be obtained, and 1 by cultivation moisture is conserved while the plants are getting established. Twenty pounds per acre sown in drills thig way were found quit© sufficient to make a good 1 cover. No fruitgrower should neglect having a cover crop, aa a fine-bearing orchard in bare soil might be destroyed which would have, been saved had there been. a cover crop^ Proof of this was furnished by the great 'freeze" in E&sex: County in 1899. •'The s»&d for the cover crop should bs I sown, if possible,. whan the ground is moist, I a.« in tie summer the seed will germinate quickly if there is moisture. After the seed 'is sown the land ehould be rolled, as this will bring the moisture to the surface and about the seed, and hasten germination. It is important to get growth started in good tim« as there is sometimes a protracted dfough.t in July and August^ which prevents germination, «*& spoils the prospect for » good cover crop. In districts -where the conservation of moisture is important, tha cover crop should 1)8 turned under as soon. a«s posaible in, the spring, «nd inflwbfe •

1 parts plant* which are killed by winter ar 2 preferred, as there is no loss of moisfcan » through them in the spring. Leguminou : plants are, on the whole, best for cove s crop*, as they take nitrogen from the air g but often 02 ts and- rope are used to goo< 9 advantage.