Alfalfa in Kansas. 283 



system is perhaps less wasteful of water than the former, yet the cost 

 of preparing the land is much greater. The borders may be constructed 

 by a "ridger," as shown in Fig. 218, or with an orchard disk turned to 

 throw the dirt toward the center. 



Furrow irrigation is not used for the watering of alfalfa, but a modi- 

 fication of this system is sometimes used by making shallow depressions 

 across the field in rows about two feet apart. This is known as the 

 corrugated system. While satisfactorily and extensively used in certain 

 western localities, this method has been but little used in Kansas. 



PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE. 



The farmer must make a careful study of his local problems and 

 adopt the methods best suited to these particular conditions. It is 

 practically impossible to tell a farmer in detail how to prepare land for 

 irrigation. Much of his knowledge must come from practical experience 

 in the field. In Kansas the practice seems to indicate that the alfalfa 

 should be seeded before the field laterals are constructed. In case the 

 area should be laid off in checks by the construction of borders, these 

 borders should be thrown up before seeding, but the laterals may be 

 subsequently made. The alfalfa should be seeded fairly thick and 

 drilled to a shallow depth. Immediately after the construction of the 

 lateral ditches the entire area should be irrigated. The warm sunshine, 

 the rich, deep soil and the irrigation water act rapidly, and a heavy 

 stand of alfalfa is practically assured. Alfalfa seeded upon newly 

 broken buffalo-grass sod has been known to yield three cuttings of good 

 hay the first season. Some farmers favor a thorough irrigation before 

 seeding, and this practice has been very satisfactory. 



THE PROPER TIME TO IRRIGATE. 



Alfalfa requires a liberal moisture supply. The general appearance of 

 the plant is a good guide as to when water should be applied. Alfalfa 

 has a light-green color when healthy and vigorous. If moisture is de- 

 ficient the leaves darken and droop, and if irrigation is not soon prac- 

 ticed both stems and leaves may wither and die. The soil at all times 

 should have enough moisture some four to six inches below the sur- 

 face to cause it to stick together when pressed in the hands. Kansas 

 practice indicates that each cutting should receive, in ordinary seasons, 

 at least one irrigation, and preferably the time of application should be 

 a week or ten days before cutting. Here again practice differs, since 

 many prefer to irrigate soon after cutting, while others prefer to irri- 

 gate twice for each cutting. Perhaps the heaviest yields have been se- 

 cured where two light irrigations are applied, the first one about one 

 week after cutting and the second four to seven days before cutting. 

 This system, however, is not extensively practiced, since many dislike to 

 go to the expense of spreading the water twice for one cutting, and the 

 majority seem to favor one heavy irrigation about a week before the 

 cutting. 



