ARID AGRICULTURE. 133 



as after the old plants get well established the 

 young ones are shaded or crowded out, and never 

 make a good, thrifty growth. Seed at right 

 angles to the direction of the wind. Under irri- 

 gation it is best to seed with the direction of the 

 land slope, unless the land is so steep the soil 

 will wash. 



PLANTING It is common practice to sow alfalfa with 



WITH NURSE some n u r se crop, as no return can be expected 

 from the alfalfa the first year. When this 

 is properly done, a nurse crop is not especially 

 objectionable, as a stand will be secured which 

 will produce hay the second year. Better re- 

 sults are always obtained without a nurse crop. 

 The plants become stronger and will produce 

 heavier crops of hay the second year where they 

 have the land all to themselves from the time of 

 planting. The best, nurse crops are those grains 

 which produce the least leaf growth or stool the 

 least, or mature in the shortest season. "Maca- 

 roni wheat is better than other wheat. Wheat 

 or barley is better than oats. If grain is used as 

 a nurse crop, plant it thin, using only half or 

 two-thirds the seed used if planting without al- 

 falfa. Winter grains may be used as nurse 

 crops by harrowing in the spring and sowing al- 

 falfa early, before they have made large growth. 

 These crops mature early in the summer and 

 leave considerable season for the alfalfa to es- 

 tabli>li itself after thev are removed. 



