ALI. ABOUT AIvFAIvFA. 33 1 



may follow the drill ways, which is a convenient way 

 of applying the water on the field. Contacft of water 

 in irrigation does not injure the plants if the water is 

 not kept on too long at a time and vSun-scald is guarded 

 against. Oats or wheat are often put in as a nurse 

 crop, and many contend for this pra<5lice, which is con- 

 demned by others. The oats are mixed with the 

 alfalfa seed and all sown together. The roots of the 

 grain hold the alfalfa in place during irrigation, and 

 the subsequent quick growth of the grain serves to 

 shade the tender alfalfa shoots from the blistering 

 efFe(5ls of the noonday sun. In any event, care must 

 be taken that the seed is not planted too deep, thus 

 preventing free germination. Hence, shallow seeding 

 with the drill is advised. 



The amount of seed to be sown to an acre will be 

 governed largely by circumstances. Primarily the 

 range is from twelve to thirty pounds to the.acre. More 

 is required in broadcasting than in drilling, and for 

 fine hay the stand should be much thicker than when 

 only a seed crop is desired. The amount of grain put 

 in when sown with alfalfa is but a trifle less than the 

 usual demand. When seed alone is the desideratum, 

 the drill should be employed and the tubes set from 

 fifteen to nineteen inches apart, and only twelve to 

 fifteen pounds of seed should be placed on an acre. A 

 good * ' catch ' ' is more desirable usually than the 

 adlual number of pounds to the acre, but a good rule 

 for a common crop would be from fifteen to twenty 

 pounds, and one using this quantity will not go astray 

 in his expe(5lations. It is very difficult to reseed thin 

 patches, as the older growth is so rank that it tends to 



