164 



Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



Miami county: "Wet spring, freezing at night and thawing in the day. 

 Have seen alfalfa raised six inches." 



Neosho county: "Freezing at night and thawing during the day will 

 pull it out of the ground and kill it, particularly in shallow soil." 



Reno county: "Alternate freezing and thawing if the ground is bare 

 and loose." 



(See pages 67 and 241.) 



OVERFLOWED ALFALFA. 



The effect of overflowing water upon alfalfa is a matter about which 

 there is considerable diversity of opinion. Some think alfalfa is injured 

 least when it is completely submerged, stating that when a part is ex- 

 posed the plants scald badly; others think alfalfa is injured least when 

 only partially submerged, so that it can get air. Then there are those who 

 believe that alfalfa will live if the water moves in a current and will die 

 if the water stands still. Finally, and considerably in the majority, are 

 those who hold the opinion that the length of time the water inundates the 

 field determines whether the alfalfa shall live or die. The following re- 

 ports bear on this subject: 



Montgomery county : "I find that standing water can completely cover 

 alfalfa for quite a time without injuring it; but if water stands, only 

 partially covering the alfalfa, the plants will scald in a short time." 



FiG. 142. Pumping water for irrigation. 



