Upon a well established alfalfa field, five to seven cuttings are obtained per 

 season. The crop is cut when one-tenth in bloom or when new shoots appear at 

 the crown. 



The alfalfa ranches of California are much smaller than the grain ranches, 

 varying in size from forty to fifty acres to several hundred acres. In order 

 to handle the crop successfully it requires about two men and two teams to 

 every forty acres, although upon the larger fields, with the use of larger 

 implements this proportion may be somewhat reduced. 



Under normal conditions four to six tons of hay per acre may be considered 

 a fair yield, though where conditions are especially favorable and when the 

 best culture methods are practiced, eight to ten tons are not impossible. 



The cost of preparing the seedbed and seeding the crop, together with the 

 cost of seed, is about $7.50 per acre. 



It is only in case of large tracts, that alfalfa culture is carried on as an 

 independent enterprise. The smaller tracts more often constitute a part of 

 some more diversified type of farming. In either case, alfalfa production is 

 both a desirable and profitable business, giving good returns and providing 

 employment of men and teams during a large portion of the year. On the 

 other hand, the fact that it remains permanent for so long a period of time, 

 eliminates the possibility of much crop rotation, a condition which is never 

 conducive to the best type of agriculture. 



The rental price of alfalfa land varies from $12 to $15 per acre, depending 

 upon the locality. In a few cases where intensive dairying is practiced and 

 the alfalfa hay is fed on the ranch, $20 an acre is secured. Eenting on shares 

 is not as common as with grain land, though it is practiced to some extent, the 

 owner receiving one-third of the crop and in nearly all cases supplying the 

 water. 



Developed alfalfa land favorably located and in good condition commands 

 a price of from $250 to $300 or more per acre. There is, however, still consider- 

 able undeveloped land in many of the alfalfa growing sections of the state, 

 which can be purchased for $150 to $200. Higher prices should not be paid 

 unless it has been proved that the conditions are especially well adapted to the 

 production of the crop. There are suitable areas for growing alfalfa, which will 

 in all probability be eventually used for that purpose, though not at present 

 considered within the alfalfa growing sections, which can be purchased for 

 $100 per acre or less. 



BARLEY PRODUCTION 

 By B. A. MADSON, Assistant Professor of Agronomy 



Barley is grown quite generally throughout California, but its production, 

 like the production of other cereal crops, is confined to the sections of the state 

 where dry-farming must be practiced. It is only in rare instances that the 

 crop is irrigated, because where irrigation can be developed the land becomes 

 too valuable to be used for barley. 



The ability of barley to grow under conditions of limited rainfall has 

 doubtless played an important part in concentrating the industry in those 

 sections of the state where the annual precipitation is low. Thus we find the 

 greatest production in the San Joaquin Valley, especially in the vicinity of 



