WORK OF YUMA EXPERIMENT FARM IN 1912. 19 



ALFALFA. 



Alfalfa is the most important crop grown on tho project. Failure 

 to secure a perfect stand by the usual method of broadcast seeding 

 often enables Bermuda grass to secure a foothold and ultimately 

 crowd out the alfalfa. The experiments conducted at the experi- 

 ment farm in starting alfalfa have indicated that the methods de- 

 scribed below can be expected to result successfully. It has been 

 found that fields planted with a grass-seed drill or a gram drill with 

 a grass-seed attachment usually produce a uniform stand. It is 

 important that the land be first properly leveled and the grade on 

 the fields made not to exceed 1 inch to 200 feet. After plowing, a 

 thorough irrigation is given. Tho soil is cultivated as soon as 

 possible after irrigation, in order to form a loose soU mulch. Spike- 

 tooth and disk harrows are excellent implements for this purpose. 

 Soon after the preparation of the seed bed the seed is planted suffi- 

 ciently deep with a drill, so that all seed are deposited in the moist 

 soil directly underneath the mulch. When alfalfa is planted with 

 a drill, 8 to 10 pounds of first-grade seed are ample, whUe 12 to 

 20 pounds per acre are necessary when the seed is broadcasted. 

 The most favorable planting season is between September 15 and 

 October 15. When planted' at this time, alfalfa becomes well rooted 

 before cold weather, and it is not troubled so much with weeds the 

 following spring, as is the case with spring-seeded alfalfa. Where 

 the soil is very sandy it is necessary to irrigate after planting in 

 order to secure proper germination. 



The heaviest jdelds of alfalfa seed are frequently obtained from 

 fields badly infested with Bermuda grass. This appears to be due 

 to the fact that the plants produce seed better when they are far 

 enough apart to be fully exposed to light. From these observations, 

 as well as from results obtained from planting alfalfa in rows 24 to 30 

 inches apart where the plants have seeded abundantly, it has seemed 

 desirable to try various methods of row planting for the purpose of 

 seed production. Field plantings in rows varying from 18 to 40 

 inches apart have been made in order to determine the value of this 

 method. 



The sandier lands on the project are relatively unproductive at 

 first. The fh'st aim of the farmer should be to increase the fertility 

 by the addition of silt and organic matter. Alfalfa is an exceptionally 

 valuable crop for this purpose. It is irrigated by flooding, and con- 

 sequently the silt in the iri'igation water is deposited uniformly over 

 the field. The decayed roots that remain after plowing alfalfa land, 

 as well as the surface accumulation of leaves, materially increase the 

 humus content of the soil. The sandy areas in spotted fields are 



[Cir. 120] 



