CULTIVATION 



77 



to insure a maximum yield of alfalfa, and also experi- 

 ments to determine the minimum application of water 

 required to secure a crop. ''It has been found that abun- 

 dant irrigation throughout the season, 6i inches of water 

 being applied, gave a yield of 6.2 tons per acre, while 

 four irrigations in the early part of the season with only 

 25 inches gave five tons per acre, showing that beyond a 

 certain supply the excess is wasted." 



A. S. Hitchcock, in United States Farmers' Bulletin 

 No. 2 1 5, speaking of the Utah experiment just mentioned, 

 says that where the supply of water is limited a much 

 less quantity than is ordinarily used will produce paying 

 crops. The minimum quantity to produce a crop of 

 alfalfa, and the time at which the water should be applied, 

 depends upon the soil and climatic conditions. Below are 

 results of experiments in 1903, by the Utah station : 



WATER REQUIRED BY ALFAIiFA; QUANTITY AND DATE 

 OF APPLICATION 



Date of each irrigation and quantity of water applied 



First 



June 16 

 June 29 

 June 16 

 June 29 

 June 15 

 June 20 

 July 8 

 June 20 

 June 15 

 June 16 

 Jiuie 23 

 .June 16 

 June 23 

 .June 16 



Acrein. 



3.360 

 5.970 

 5.070 

 7.020 

 5.030 

 6.774 

 12.490 

 8.303 

 6.320 

 6.2.T0 

 6.2.T0 

 6.2.50 

 6.610 



Second 



July 29 

 July 29 

 July 8 

 July 8 

 July 3 

 July 8 

 Aug. 19 

 July 6 

 July 6 

 June 23 

 July 7 

 July 7 

 July 7 

 July 7 



Acrein. 



3.359 

 3.359 

 5.036 

 5.036 

 5.100 

 6.694 

 12..506 

 8.352 

 6.248 

 4.280 

 6.220 

 6.220 

 3.720 

 3.720 



Third 



Aug. 19 

 Aug. 6 

 Aug. 19 

 Aug. 1 

 Aug. 19 



Aug. 19 

 Aug. 1 

 June 30 

 Aug. 15 

 Aug. 6 

 Aug. 15 

 Aug. 6 



Acrein, 



3.359 

 5.003 

 5.002 

 5.036 

 6.682 



8.362 

 6.248 

 5.705 



6.2:)0 



6.7.50 

 3.2.50 

 3.750 



Fourth 



Aug. 24 



Aug. 29 

 July 7 

 Aug. 31 

 Aug. 31 

 Aug. 31 

 Aug. 31 



Acrein. 



5.002 



6.2;50 

 a5.230 

 6.2.50 

 6.2.50 

 3.7.50 

 3.750 



Total 

 Water 

 applied 



Acre in. 



6.719 

 12.688 

 15.109 

 17.058 

 20.168 

 20.150 

 25.002 

 2.5.017 

 25.066 

 61.46.5 

 24.970 

 25.470 

 17.330 

 15.200 



aThis plat was given 5 inches of water on each of the following dates: July 

 14, July 22, July 28, August 4, August 17, August 25, August 31, September 8. 



