PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 239 



gate from streams, applying water as soon as the sprmg 

 opens and every time a crop is cut, the quantity of water 

 needed depending on the quahty of the soil. Drainage 

 is very necessary, especially when irrigation is done in 

 warm weather. After the first irrigation, less water is 

 needed at an application than at first. Winterkilling seems 

 to be effectually prevented by watering in the fall. 

 Alfalfa will attain its best state in three or four years, and 

 its condition after that will depend upon its treatment. 

 We put stock on our land generally after the first and 

 second growth is cut, and the only rest the land receives 

 is when it is being irrigated. After hay has been cut for 

 several years, we harrow in the spring with a heavy har- 

 row or disk cutter, and take the opportunity to reseed 

 that which shows lack of vigor. The more sun and the 

 less shade there is, the better the growth and the more 

 satisfactory the yield. We find it more difficult to get a 

 stand than to get rid of it ; but, in some instances, where 

 we have wanted the land for orchard, vegetables, or root 

 crops, we found several plowings would destroy it. W^ith- 

 out irrigation, we have net found the crop very profitable, 

 but there are a few favored spots in the state where it 

 can be grown without water; but when we plant we 

 usually select such land as can be put under a perfect 

 system of irrigation before using. Longevity of the 

 plant depends on treatment and on the nature of the soil. 

 On heavy adobe soil it will not live and thrive as long 

 as on loamy soil, and on sandy, light soil it will be of 

 short duration without constant and judicious irrigation. 

 After the first season, we make two cuttings a year, and 

 consider two tons to the acre each time a good yield. For 



