236 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



pan being, in places, only 10 inches below the surface; 

 the remainder of the land is low, or bottom, with adobe 

 soil. Well water is found at a depth of 95 feet, and the 

 soil is dry from the surface to within a few feet of the 

 water stratum. Before sowing, the surface soil is plowed 

 and harrowed thoroughly; 20 pounds of seed is used to 

 the acre, and covered not more than one-half inch deep. 

 In our section, the best time for seeding is in September 

 and October, and there is no danger from the winter frost. 

 During the first season we cut twice or three times, to 

 destroy all weeds, and obtain 2j^ or 3 tons of hay per 

 acre, but have never been able to get a paying crop of 

 seed from the first season's cutting. For irrigation, we 

 obtain water from the Gila and Salt rivers, but in some 

 sections of our country water is pumped from wells by 

 steam pumps. It has not been found practicable to lift 

 the water from a greater depth than 50 feet for this pur- 

 pose. The first year, as the land is very dry, it requires 

 twice the quantity of water that is needed the second year 

 and after. We flood the alfalfa five or six times a year — 

 once in the fall, in the spring, and after each cutting, 

 using water enough to cover the land to a depth of about 

 one inch. We have no rain to amount to anything here, 

 and depend entirely on irrigation. I think the ground 

 should be prepared in the fall, and seeded in February or 

 March as, if seeded in the fall, the young plants might be 

 liable to injury from frost. In all cases, the soil should be 

 thoroughly prepared, and the seed not covered more than 

 one-half inch deep. It is not uncommon to harvest six 

 crops of alfalfa in a single season, and its feeding qual- 

 ities are unequaled for cattle, horses, or swine. It is 



