330 IRRIGATION INARMING. 



which has been finely pulverized and not crusted, the 

 sowing being done very early in the spring. The 

 crumbling of the soil after a night's freezing partly or 

 wholly covers the seed, none of which is buried so 

 deep as to prevent germination. The seed is pro- 

 tedled with an oily covering or sac, and is not injured 

 by freezing. With spring rains enough to keep the 

 surface moist nearly all will grow. But in most cases 

 all the required conditions for success with this mode 

 of seeding cannot be depended on. The soil well 

 fitted the previous autumn may have become so crusted 

 by an open winter as to prevent the seed from becom- 

 ing covered by the crumbling soil, or an early drouth 

 may be fatal to the young alfalfa. Farmers who are 

 familiar with the seasons will decide whether to adopt 

 this mode of seeding, or use a later mode by har- 

 rowing. Covering the seed by harrowing prevents a 

 part from growing by burying too deep, but the loss of 

 seed in this way is less than many suppose. It is true 

 that alfalfa seed will not grow if buried over an inch in 

 heavy soil, or an inch and a half in a light one. With 

 a light harrow not more than half the seed will be 

 buried too deep, and often not more than a third, and 

 if the soil surface has been well pulverized all the rest 

 will grow. The writer has seen old-fashioned farmers 

 " brushing in " broadcasted seed, and the plan worked 

 all right. In his own experience the writer has always 

 used the modern press drill, with the tubes set at 

 various distances apart, according to the purposes of 

 the crop, whether for pasture, hay, or seed. The vari- 

 ance is from four to nineteen inches. The drill should 

 be run the same way the land slopes, so that irrigation 



