238 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



$3 a ton on $50 land, with 15 cents an acre for irrigation. 

 The average selhng price for hay is $4 a ton, and for 

 seed, 10 cents a pound. With proper care, alfalfa will 

 last time without end, and improve each year, and it is 

 difficult to kill it out, as it makes more or less seed every 

 crop. An open soil, free from hardpan, is best for it. 



CALIFORNIA 



Henry Miller, San Mateo county. — Since 1871, we 

 have gradually increased our acreage of alfalfa, until we 

 now have about 20,000 acres. This is on reclaimed 

 swamp and upland, under a complete system of irriga- 

 tion, with the exception of a little light, loamy soil, with 

 water near the surface and no irrigation. On the latter 

 ground the plant is short-lived, on account of the gophers. 

 The depth at which well water is found varies from 10 

 to 40 feet, and, with irrigation, it is immaterial whether 

 the soil is naturally moist or dry. The preparation for 

 seeding consists of deep plowing and cross plowing, and 

 the depth for planting is not over two or three inches. 

 For light, loamy soils, 12 pounds of seed to the acre is 

 ample, while for hard, rough, new land, from 16 to 20 

 pounds is required to insure a good stand. Seeding may 

 be done here after the cold season, and when danger of 

 heavy frost is past, but in time to take advantage of the 

 spring rains, which are very essential. During the first 

 season, the weeds should be mowed as they require it, 

 without regard to returns of alfalfa, and after they are 

 subdued it is well to let the first year's growth go to seed 

 and allow it to be trampled into the soil by young stock, 

 but if there is a full stand this is not necessary. We irri- 



