610 Bulletin 84 



concerning conservation of moisture, variety tests, tillage methods, 

 and the most favorable dates, rates and methods of planting; the 

 utilization of occasional iloodwaters and supplemental irrigation by 

 pumped waters; and the study of livestock management in its re- 

 lation to dry-farming. 



Moisture determinations were made on a great number of soil 

 samples taken on various dates at depths of eight feet or less. 

 Table LX\'1II records the results. 



.\LI'ALK.\ 



Turkestan alfalfa was planted in a small plot south of the 

 dwelling-house, October 12, 1914. It was drilled thinly to a depth 

 of four inches, in rows two feet a])art, in a well-prepared seed bed. 

 The soil was nut uniform and it is interesting to note that the 

 alfalfa came up very readily through the deep mulch of the loamy 

 soil while in the sandy soil, where the mulch was somewhat settled, 

 the stand was poor. About sixty per cent of a normal stand 

 emerged, but winter killing and injury by rabbits reduced the stand 

 by half. The crop was not harvested, but in August, 1915, the 

 yield of seed was carefully estimated as 150 pounds per acre. From 

 this limited trial it appears that alfalfa, grown in rows and culti- 

 vated, will return a slight income from the production of seed. 



1 5 KAN'S 



Five varieties of beans were j^lanted in May, and six in July, 

 1914. See Table LXIX. The seed bed for the May plantings was 

 irrigated by laying out small furrows three feet apart, after which 

 two inches of water was run in each furrow. Beans were then 

 ])lanted in the mud and covered to a depth of three inches with 

 dry soil. Prompt germination and rapid growth followed, but, 

 since the beans later appeared to suffer from drought, they were 

 given a three-inch irrigation on June 26. The rainy season began 

 early, and no further irrigation was given except a flood, about 

 four inches deep, Avhich passed over the field July 2. The vines 

 grew to a height of approximately four feet, but blossomed 

 sparingly. 



