58 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



essential to the best growth of the plants and the water supply can 

 usually be controlled so as to be applied when most needed. The 

 seeding usually takes place in the spring, and quite often some 

 small-grain crop is seeded with the alfalfa. The alfalfa is so thor- 

 oughly at home that it succeeds in spite of the nurse crop rather than 

 by reason of it. 



In the extreme South and Southwest it is often the practice to 

 seed alfalfa in the fall with small grain. In most cases the land 

 receives a thorough irrigation shortly before seeding. The crust is 

 broken when the seeding takes place and the moisture is usually 

 sufficient to enable the plants to make a satisfactory start. It is 

 sometimes the practice to irrigate the ground immediately after 

 seeding and then irrigate a second time just as the seedlings are 

 trying to break through the crust. The plants are then able to get 

 through the crust before it has a chance to form a second time. 

 This method, however, is not usually to be recommended. 



It is generally the best practice to irrigate alfalfa a few days 

 before cutting and then give a second irrigation w r hen the crop is 

 about half grown, which is commonly about fifteen days after cut- 

 ting. The advantage of irrigating before rather than immediately 

 after cutting, as is often the practice, is that there is not the delay in 

 starting the new growth. This delay may be injurious, as several 

 days are usually required to get the hay off the ground, and in the 

 meantime there is almost no growth on the part of the alfalfa. 



Semiarid Regions. The principal factor in the successful pro- 

 duction of alfalfa in the semiarid sections is the conservation of soil 

 moisture before the alfalfa is seeded. The proper preparation of 

 the ground for planting usually calls for special treatment of the 

 soil for at least a year preceding the time of sowing in order that 

 the rainfall of the entire year may be stored up in the ground and 

 may be available for the young alfalfa plants. 



Fall seeding is not usually advisable, owing to the danger of 

 drought and the small growth which the plants are able to make 

 before winter. For this reason spring seeding is usually practiced, 

 even though the danger of weeds in summer is considerable. 



The seed should be sown broadcast or drilled in at the rate of 

 8 to 12 pounds of good seed per acre. A more nearly even stand can 

 be secured by dividing the seed and sowing one-half each way across 

 the field. If sown broadcast, a harrow should be used to cover the 

 seed l 1 /^ to 2 inches deep. If the soil is sandy and likely to blow 

 before the plants can make sufficient growth to cover the ground, 

 a half bushel of oats 'per acre may be seeded with the alfalfa. 



Eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington. Alfalfa is thor- 

 oughly established in the irrigated portions of this section and its 

 culture is gradually being extended in the semiarid nonirrigated 

 sections, although much lighter yields are obtained than where the 

 crop is grown under irrigation. In the absence of more drought- 

 resistant plants, however, alfalfa takes front rank as a leguminous 

 forage plant. On dry soils it is slow in becoming established, and 

 not until the third year are the best results to be looked for. 



