Florida Agricultural Experiment Station


and of growing C. spectabilis during summer. Sometime during
April or May the winter crops should be returned to the soil
with a light disking, and during August the summer crop should
be mowed (Fig. 17).


 Fig. 17.-Volunteer Crotalaria spectabilis in Jefferson County where
original test plot was planted in May 1925. Photographed in October 1927.

 In handling summer cover crops several points should be kept
in mind. Rainfall in Florida is generally sufficient during June,
July, and August to permit plant growth without serious com-
petition with the trees for soil moisture. During dry summers,
however, the land should be disked lightly or the cover crop
mowed to prevent competition with the trees; but with adequate
moisture in the soil the cover crop can be allowed to grow until
August, when it should be mowed or the growth checked with
a shallow disking. Seed of winter legumes should be planted
during the last of October or in November if there is adequate
soil moisture, but satisfactory growth can be obtained with
plantings as late as December 20, provided conditions are favor-
able throughout the remainder of the winter and early spring.
 Winter legumes planted in the experiment, as well as others
mentioned, have been observed making satisfactory growth in
all sections of northern Florida on soils capable of growing
pecans. However, the heavier types of soils will give best results