434 THE SMALL GRAINS 



Barley is grown as the first crop in the Imperial Valley. 

 It mellows the first breaking of the hard lands, and may 

 be grown before the land is permanently leveled. It is 

 considered best to precede alfalfa with two crops of bar- 

 ley. For winter pasture it is seeded about October 1, 

 but if the grain alone is desired, it is sown in December 

 or January. Broadcasting the seed, followed by harrow- 

 ing, is the common method of seeding. Twenty to 40 

 pounds of seed is used to an acre, if sown in the fall, and 

 40 to 75 pounds if sown in winter or early spring, as the 

 fall-sown crop tillers greatly. Usually irrigation is done 

 after seeding. As the ripe grain stands some time before 

 harvesting, it is a common practice to allow the crop to 

 reseed itself after the first year. Sometimes the crop is 

 " hogged down," and even then sufficient seed remains 

 for a volunteer crop. 



On the sandy soils of the Columbia River Valley, rye 

 or wheat is recommended among other crops, for fall 

 seeding, for cover-crops in orchards. These cereals are 

 frequently sown with red clover or hairy vetch for the 

 same purpose. For spring or early summer seeding, rye, 

 oats, wheat, or barley is recommended. On the Uma- 

 tilla reclamation project in Oregon, rye and wheat are 

 recommended for growing as catch or cover crops on bare 

 lands between the regular crops (Hunter, 1909 and 1910). 



471. Cereals as nurse crops. Under irrigation, alfalfa 

 and other legumes are often started with some cereal as a 

 nurse crop. The cereal aids the legume chiefly in three 

 ways : by (1) protecting it from the hot sunshine, 

 (2) checking soil-blowing, and (3) preventing crusting of 

 the surface soil. 



On the Truckee-Carson project, it is recommended for 

 starting alfalfa, that wheat or barley be sown some time 



