ALFALFA. 28 



vetch should be grown instead of peas, for they avg sure crops and 

 are ecjual or even superior to j)eas in practically every way as a forage 

 plant. 



ALFALIA. 



At the present time the growing of alfalfa {Medicago sativa) west 

 of the Cascade Mountains is only in tlie experimental stage. Small 

 areas are to be found in various })laces, some of which are doing 

 reasoiuibly well. Most of these have not been i)lanted long enough 

 and have not been studied sufficiently to justify definite conclusions as 

 to the future usefulness of alfalfa in this region. There are many 

 localities with well-drained soils, however, in which it will unques- 

 tional)ly succeed if given proper treatment. In regions in which the 

 rainfall is as great as it is at certain seasons west of the Cascade 

 Mountains, alfalfa requires a loose, permeable subsoil, and seems to 

 thrive best on the san<ly loams along the water courses. The best 

 alfalfa fields noticed were on the sandy alluvial soils on the Willamette 

 and Columbia rivers. The water table of land selected for alfalfa 

 should be at least 4 feet below the surface, and the land should not be 

 subject to overflow. Alfalfa will stand considerable flooding, jn-o- 

 vided the water is running, but it is usually destroyed if stationary 

 water covers it for a few days. 



There are two important difficulties to be overcome in the successful 

 production of alfalfa in this region. In the first place bluegrass, 

 English rye-grass. Italian rye-grass, velvet grass, couch-grass, and 

 many other grasses and weeds have a strong tendency to crowd out the 

 alfalfa. This difficulty is largely overcome by eradicating these 

 plants, so far as possible, before the seeding is done. Thorough disking 

 and harrowing at a time when the alfalfa has made but little growth, 

 or just after cutting a crop of hay, tends to keep it vigorous and holds 

 the weeds and grasses in check. The disk harrow should be weighted 

 to make it cut deep and should be set about as straight as possible, 

 so as not to cut off the crowns of the alfalfa plants. Although these 

 grasses, when growing with alfalfa, actually decrease the total amount 

 of forage produced, they also decrease the danger of bloating when 

 the field is pastured by sheep, goats, or cattle. In fact, grasses^ are 

 frequently sown with alfalfa for this purpose. Secondly, the first and 

 last crops of alfalfa mature at seasons of the year when it is very diffi- 

 cult to make hay on account of the damp Aveather. This objection is 

 obviated by using the first and third cuttings for ensilage, soiling, or 

 pasture. 



METHODS OF SOWING. 



This must be governed largely by local conditions. Land that is naturally 

 well drained or that is tiled at least 3 feet deep should be selected for this crop. 

 If barnyard manure is available, put on from 15 to 20 tons per acre in the fall 



94 



