Winter legumes or mixtures of legumes and grains may be seeded in the fall. They should be well fertilized with potassium and phosphorus and with some nitrogen if a grain is used in the mixture. Five hundred pounds an acre of 0-10-10 fertilizer for legumes or of 4-10-10 fertilizer for a mixture of legumes and grain should be applied when the winter cover crop is seeded. Such fertilization makes for a heavy growth of cover crop and a large production of feed for grazing in most parts of the pecan area, which is almost the same area as the Cotton Belt.

Some legume cover crops will reseed themselves if they are left in the orchard and allowed to seed in the spring.

The orchard may be given a relatively shallow disking in the spring. Disking may be repeated at intervals in summer to hold growth in check.

Bermuda-grass is present in many orchards and may be pastured in summer. If it is not pastured, shallow cultivation at approximately monthly intervals is wise to hold the growth.

Pecans are harvested in October and November. The nuts are shaken from the tree and picked up from the ground. It is important not to have vegetation in the orchard then. Orchards therefore are usually cultivated or mowed just before harvest.

If Bermuda-grass is allowed to grow and is pastured during the summer, additional nitrogen to maintain growth of the grass and trees may be necessary. It should be broadcast in the spring.

The pecan needs more zinc than some other crop plants do. Zinc deficiency, which causes rosette, may be serious in many orchards. The zinc may be applied to the surface of acid soils and will penetrate to the roots. On neutral or alkaline soils, however, zinc applied to the soils generally is not effective. The deficiency then can be corrected by applying a zinc sulfate solution as a spray to the foliage. Two pounds of zinc sulfate in 100 gallons of water is generally used.

THE PERSIAN (ENGLISH) WALNUT is grown commercially in the United States in California and Oregon. The trees attain large size. The distance between mature trees on fertile soil should be at least 50 feet.

Most of the orchards in California and a few of those in Oregon are irrigated. Nearly all orchards are handled with summer cultivation and winter cover crops.

As with pecans, nut harvest is in late fall, and it is desirable to have the soil smooth and relatively free of vegetative growth at that time. Often the cover crop is seeded just in advance of harvest, so little growth will have been made to interfere with harvesting. These cover crops grow through the winter and are turned into the soil in the spring. Occasional shallow summer cultivation is given to control weeds.

In the walnut-producing localities, nitrogen is the chief fertilizer element needed. Most orchards are given about 100 pounds of elemental nitrogen an acre. Boron is needed to promote maximum production in some areas, particularly in Oregon.

THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS give some details about other fruit and nut crops.

The almond (Prunus amygdalus) blossoms so early that commercial culture is limited largely to California. Spring frosts destroy the crop in most other sections. Well-drained, light-textured soils (pH 5 to 8) are ideal. The almond will tolerate well-drained clays but not waterlogged soil. The tree is drought tolerant and often is planted where the moisture supply is limited, but it needs ample moisture for good production. It has some tolerance to salt and alkali.

Avocado (Persea americans), a tropical fruit, is subject to injury when temperatures go below 28 F. It is unusually sensitive to poorly drained soil.

It grows successfully on marl soils of southern Florida. Rather open, well. drained soils (pH 5 to 7.5) are ideal. It will not tolerate salt in soil or irrigation water.

Blackberry (Rubus) varieties are avail. able that are adapted to all sections of the United States, except the coldest parts and the southern half of Florida. Because they bloom late, spring frosts are not a hazard, but the canes are subject to injury by low winter temperatures. Blackberries thrive best on medium-textured, sandy loams to clay loams (pH 5 to 7.5). They do poorly on coarse sands or poorly drained clays. The plants are easily killed by waterlogged conditions but need ample moisture for good production.

Various species of blueberry (Vaccinium) grow in nearly all areas of the United States where soils are acid. They cannot be grown satisfactorily in soils above pH 6 in reaction. They thrive best in moist but well-drained soils from sandy loams to well-drained clays. They do best under permanent mulches, particularly sawdust. The plants seem unable to obtain necessary iron under neutral or alkaline soil conditions. The best pH range is 4.5 to 5.5.

The Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) is the only chestnut that can be recommended for planting in the United States. It is resistant to chestnut blight, the disease that has destroyed the native chestnut. It is suited to the areas where peaches can be grown. It is subject to winter injury in areas where temperatures may drop to 20 F. It does not tolerate poorly drained soil but succeeds on well-drained, fine sands and loams (pH 5 to 7). It is not tolerant to salt or alkali.

The cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is the most exacting in soil requirements of our fruits. The plant is native to swampy areas in the Northeastern States and as far south as North Carolina. The vine is not hardy to very low temperature. It survives when it is covered with snow or ice and water in the North. It requires porous, acid soil (pH 4 to 5).

Peat bogs are largely used for cranberries. They are leveled. The surface soil usually is removed. Then the bogs are coated with about 2 inches of sand before planting. They are diked so they can be flooded during the winter to protect the vines. During the growing season, the water table is maintained about 2 feet below the surface; in dry weather, it is raised periodically to wet the soil. Culture of cranberries in mineral soil generally is not satisfactory.

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) requires extremely hot, and conditions and abundant soil moisture, supplied by surface irrigation or subirrigation. Culture in the United States is limited to desert areas of southern California and Arizona. Rainfall during the ripening season will cause the crop to ferment and to sour on the tree. Soil should be deep and open and well drained (pH 5.5 to 8.5). Loamy sands to sandy loams are preferred, but the date palm will thrive on well-drained clays. It is one of the most salt tolerant of fruit plants.

The fig (Ficus carica) will withstand temperatures to 15 F. when fully dormant. Lower temperatures frequently injure or kill the tops. Commercial culture is largely in California, but plantings for home and local market exist throughout the Southern States and along the Atlantic seaboard to New Jersey. They are not exacting as to soils. They thrive in well-drained soils from fine sands to clays (pH 5 to 8). They are sensitive to nematodes. The soil should be fumigated before planting if many nematodes are present. Fig trees are moderately tolerant to salt.

Filbert (Corylus avellana) is grown commercially in the United States, mostly in western Oregon and Washington. Varieties suited to median latitudes of the Eastern States are available. The trees are rather shallow rooted and are not tolerant to a high water table or poorly drained soil. They thrive best on sandy loams to clay foams (pH 5 to 7.5), but will grow on well-drained clays. They are rather intolerant to salt and alkali.

Grapes (Vitis species) can be grown in all sections of the United States. The vines require winter covering in the coldest localities. Grapes thrive best on well-aerated soils medium sands to loams (pH 5 to 8) are ideal, but grapes will tolerate well-drained clays. The plants root deeply and are more drought resistant than most fruits. They are medium in salt tolerance.

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisii) are subtropical evergreen trees that are subject to injury if temperatures go below about 27 F. They are adapted to a wide range of soils, but different rootstocks are used on fine-textured soils (pH 5 to 8). A medium-textured soil is ideal, but the trees can be grown on moderately well-drained clays or clay loams. They are rather tolerant to salt and alkalinity.

Lemon (Citrus Limon) is a little tenderer than oranges or grapefruit, is more subject to disease in humid climates, and is more sensitive to unfavorable soil conditions and to salt and alkalinity. It thrives best on medium to light-textured, well-drained soil (pH 5 to 7.5) but it can be grown on well-drained clay loam.

Olive (Olea europaea) is a rather small, evergreen tree. It will endure temperatures as low as 15 F. It is highly drought resistant. It has been widely planted in areas of limited water supply, but it requires good soil moisture for maximum production. Commercial production has not been successful in areas with humid summers, such as the Gulf States, although trees there will bear some fruits. Trees do not tolerate waterlogged soil. Open, well-drained sandy loams to clay loams (pH 5 to 8) are ideal. It is moderately tolerant to salt and alkaline soil.

Orange (Citrus sinensis) will tolerate temperatures as low as about 27 F. without serious injury. It can be grown on a wide range of soils, but it thrives best on medium- to open-textured, well-drained soils (pH 5 to 8). On soils of finer texture, special stocks must be used. For maximum production, ample moisture must be available throughout the year, although the tree will tolerate temporary conditions of water shortage. Roots die in waterlogged soil rather quickly. It is moderately tolerant of salt.

Raspberry (Rubus) thrives in the northern half of the United States, except in the coldest sections. They do not grow and fruit satisfactorily in the South. They require ample moisture, but they are sensitive to waterlogged soil. They thrive best on sandy loams to clay loams (pH 5 to 7.5) but will grow in well-drained clay. They are relatively shallow rooted and grow best, especially in the warmer locations, if they are kept mulched with organic material.

Strawberry (Fragaria) may be grown in all parts of the United States. They require a winter cover of mulch in cold areas. Because plants root to 2 feet, the water table should be lower than that. They thrive on loamy sands (pH 5 to 7.5). They can be grown on well-drained clays, but soils of light to medium texture are preferred. They are not tolerant of salt or alkali.

Tung (Aleurites fordii) is a nonedible nut crop that is grown for oil for industrial use. It is adapted to areas where temperatures rarely go below 15 F., but where a moderate winter cold occurs. They are grown mainly within 150 miles of the Gulf of Mexico in northern Florida and southern Georgia and west to Texas. They are subject to spring-frost damage and fall or winter cold. Their roots are relatively shallow. The trees do not thrive and produce satisfactorily on coarse sands or fine-textured clay. Deep, well-drained, fine sands to loams (pH 5 to 7) are ideal. Somewhat heavy fertilization with nitrogen, potassium, zinc, and copper is required in some places. The trees do not stand salt or alkali in soil.

The black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a native tree in the middle latitudes from Iowa and Kansas to the Atlantic. Its soil requirement is similar to that of the Persian walnut. Sandy loams to well-drained clay loams (pH 5.5 to 8) are ideal. It does not tolerate a high water table or poorly drained subsoils.