18 CULTIVATED FORAGE CEOPS OF THE NORTHWEST. 



that he has many times tried to raise cows with calves upon wild hay, 

 but that the calves often die of starvation, while when fed upon alfalfa 

 both cow and calf remain in g-ood condition. 



SEEDING. 



The soil should be well prepared and finely pulverized, as the young 

 alfalfa is a tender plant. In those localities where the rainfall is 

 depended upon for the water supply, the seed should not be sown 

 until a rain has moistened the soil thoroughly and thus placed it in 

 a condition to favor germination. In California the rains come with 

 such regularity that the seed may often be sown in advance of a rain 

 and thus get the full benefit of the favorable conditions. 



The seed is sown in the spring, except in central California, where 

 it mav be sown in either fall or spring. In California a common 

 method is to irrigate, if necessary, in September or October, prepare 

 the soil, and then to sow the seed broadcast with barley, or sometimes 

 wheat. There is some danger from frost, and the grain is thought to 

 protect the alfalfa. It is best not to pasture the alfalfa the first season, 

 but to allow it to obtain a good start for the second season. If sown 

 in the spring, the grain is usualh^ omitted. 



In other parts of the Northwest, alfalfa, though sown in the spring, 

 is sown either alone or with grain — barley, wheat, or oats. Mr. W. 

 P. Noble, of Golconda, Nev., states that alfalfa is sometimes sown with 

 timothy in central Nevada. Sowing with grain has the advantage 

 that there is a return from the land the first season, while the alfalfa 

 is getting started. When sown with grain it is best not to pasture 

 the alfalfa or cut it for hay the first season. After harvesting the 

 grain, the alfalfa should be irrigated, and for this reason the grain 

 should be removed from the field as soon as possible. 



On the other hand, many prefer to sow the alfalfa alone, as in this 

 way a better stand is obtained. Under favorable conditions one cut- 

 ting may be obtained the first season, but it is not best to draw too 

 heavily upon the field the first year either by cutting or pasturing the 

 crop. Where the ground is weedy, it may be necessary to cut the 

 weeds in the summer; but a still better plan is to previously free 

 the soil from weeds b}" proper methods of cultivation. 



When alfalfa is sown with grain, the two may be sown at the same 

 time by means of combination machines which drill the grain and 

 alfalfa throup-h the same holes or scatter the alfalfa broadcast in front 

 of the grain drill, or the alfalfa may be drilled one way and the grain 

 cross-drilled, or the two may be sown broadcast and harrowed in 

 separately. The amount of seed recommended by alfalfa growers 

 varies from 12 to 30 pounds per acre. When the seed is drilled in, 

 the amount required is less than when sown broadcast. The larger 

 quantities of seed tend to produce smaller stems and the hay contains 



