CEREAL CULTIVATION WESTERN AREA 389 



able feed in 2 or 3 instances, and gave an average yield of wheat 

 following it of 15.5 bushels an acre, 2.61 bushels more than after 

 summer tillage. The potatoes averaged 34.24 bushels an acre, 

 and gave an average yield of wheat following them of 14.94 bushels 

 an acre, 2.05 bushels more than after summer tillage. These crops 

 were given about the same amount of cultivation as the summer 

 tillage (Fig. 124). 



Alfalfa is about the best general purpose crop in the 

 Western area. It is adapted for rotations, for a pasture 

 and hay crop, and is excellent as a restorative crop for 

 improving the soil. Alfalfa roots -penetrate even the 

 hardest soil layers to the depth of 9 to 12 feet. It feeds 

 much lower than the wheat plant, and therefore rests the 

 soil to some extent where the wheat roots feed. Also 

 one can obtain the hay and seed, and still turn under a 

 much larger quantity of roots for the benefit of the soil 

 than in the case of any other legume. Experiments in 

 Wyoming with wheat following alfalfa continuously re- 

 sulted in giving a residual benefit to the wheat, in in- 

 creased yields, for 3 years. Under dry-farming, it should 

 usually be grown in rows and cultivated. It should not 

 be plowed under before 3 years, and from that time to 

 5 years. Usually at least one cutting of the alfalfa each 

 year may be obtained. The entire crop should be fed 

 on the farm. Plowing under alfalfa is somewhat difficult 

 on account of the strong roots. It should be done when 

 the ground is moist. 



414. Summer tillage. In the dry-farming districts of 

 the Western area summer tillage is a general practice. The 

 occurrence of winter rains in this area appears to make 

 summer tillage more desirable than in the Great Plains. 

 All things considered, it is at least better than continuous 

 cropping (Fig. 125). At the Moro, Oregon, dry-farming 



