288 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



In fact winter irrigation is often a very good thing. 

 It saves water, for one thing, that might otherwise 

 be lost for lack of storage, and no one ever heard of 

 there being enough water to satisfy all needs in 

 summer time. 



Care must be taken, however, not to let the alfalfa 

 be flooded in cold weather, which might cover over 

 the crowns and freeze into a solid sheet of ice which 

 would destroy the plants entirely. In truth in ir- 

 rigated regions there is no easier way of destroying 

 alfalfa than to let it be flooded in winter and freeze 

 solid to the ground. This makes it much easier 

 plowing in the spring. 



Alfalfa does not want to be too wet when growth 

 starts in spring, since that makes the ground cold 

 and retards growth. One or two waterings will 

 usually be sufficient before the first crop is cut. 



It is usually well to water alfalfa shortly before 

 cutting, as this starts off the second crop promptly 

 and vigorously. In irrigated lands one should get 

 the hay off the land as quickly as he can, since 

 growth is usually very prompt and very rapid after 

 cutting. One watering when the crop is about half 

 grown is usually advisable. Here, of course, one 

 must be governed by his soil and water supply, and 

 somewhat by climate as well. There are soils that 

 respond to double the water that other soils require. 

 Loose sandy or gravelly soils will use vast amounts 

 of water, and when this can be given the yield may 

 be splendid. 



As a rule the yield of hay is nearly proportioned 



