TRANSACTIONS OF STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 103 



When to Irrigate. — Where alfalfa is irrigated by flooding, one crop a 

 year can be gained by flooding just before hay is cut rather than by 

 waiting until hay is taken from the field ; also there is less danger in 

 scalding when field is shaded by the standing crop. Do not let the 

 water stand on it over twenty-four hours. Arrange irrigation so you 

 can shut water off in the evening rather than in the morning, so 

 that it can soak away during the cool night and not get so warm as 

 it will if left to soak away in sunlight. While fresh water is running 

 from the ditch, it keeps the plant cool; it is when shut off that scalding 

 is most likely to occur. 



Enemies. — The principal enemies of alfalfa are foxtail grass, dodder, 

 and gophers and squirrels. Foxtail is not such an unmitigated nui- 

 sance if mowed early, as it makes a good hay for loose stock. Where 

 the ground is moist enough to cause the grass to grow after the first 

 cutting, the only remedy is to mow early and burn the crop without 

 raking, which kills the grass without seemingly injuring the alfalfa. 

 Dodder is not troublesome in this vicinity. Where patches occur in 

 fields, it can be killed by scattering a layer of straw over and burning. 

 Where dodder is a serious pest, it is best to screen all seed sown, as 

 dodder seed is smaller than alfalfa and can be removed by a screen that 

 will let it pass through and retain the alfalfa seed. Gophers and squir- 

 rels are the worst pests the Fresno farmer has to deal with. Poison or 

 drowning by flooding are the only remedies. Smothering with bisul- 

 phide of carbon is very successful when the ground is wet. 



Conclusion. — In conclusion: Do not sow alfalfa in your orchard; it 

 will kill or render it worthless. Do not plant every new perennial you 

 see advertised in hope of getting something better than alfalfa. Twenty 

 centuries' experience says it cannot be done. Remember the Johnson 

 grass experience! 



Put one of the several good horse carrier forks in your barn and 

 another in your field on a stacking frame to save time and labor in 

 handling the large amount of forage you raise. 



ALFALFA AS A DAIRY CROP. 



By C. H. SESSIONS, of Los A»geles. 



In keeping cows for milk it is necessary for the dairyman to use the 

 greatest precautions in the selection of feed, in order that he may 

 reduce its expense to a minimum, and raise its value to a maximum. 



The hay feed is of great importance, as its quality may require quan- 

 tities of grain to obtain a properly balanced ration, which is necessary 

 to get the best results. 



