Alfalfa in Kansas. 



277 



in Kansas is no exception, for lifting water requires power; power costs 

 money. Consequently, waste of water is a waste of money. Alfalfa is 

 the most profitable irrigated crop, but the margin of profit is measured 

 very largely by the economy with which the water is applied. 



REASONABLE PREPARATION NECESSARY. 



It is evident, therefore, that successful irrigation depends upon a 

 reasonable preparation of the land to receive the wat.er. Alfalfa is a 

 "long-time" crop; that is, it does not require frequent reseeding. This 

 permanency of the crop renders it highly important that the field should 

 be placed in the very best possible condition before seeding. The farmer 

 can not afford to leave his land in a poor condition to receive the water, 

 as this would mean not only the inconvenience and inefficiency of irriga- 

 tion for a single season, but for a period of perhaps fifteen or twenty 

 years. Small losses collectively make large ones; accordingly the little 

 details in land preparation must not be neglected. 



FIG. 215. Fresno scraper. 

 [Sketch made from cut in U. S. Department Bulletin 373.] 



LflMC? LE.VE.L.E.R 



FIG. 216. Laud leveler or float. 



