GRAINS AND FORAGE CROPS 45 



It will put your ground into better shape for the growth of a sum- 

 mer crop of black-eye beans if you could grow a hardy legume like 

 field peas or vetches during the preceding winter season, but unless you 

 have more than ten inches of water available there will not be moisture 

 enough remaining to make a summer crop of black-eyes. It is certain 

 that winter-growing legumes, cultivated for the retention of moisture, 

 would leave the ground in better shape for a summer growth of black- 

 eyes than it would be after a crop of oats had been grown, for a crop 

 of oats or other grain would bring moisture to its minimum. But for 

 such double-cropping as you propose irrigation is essential with such 

 scant rainfall. 



Alfalfa on Sandy Land. 



I planted alfalfa on sandy land, but got no crop, as the land became 

 dry quickly and so hot that the young alfalfa died out. It was planted 

 in the springtime. Is there any way to make alfalfa grow upon sandy 

 land? 



Alfalfa is all right on sandy land if you start early and have water 

 ready to keep it going; for such soil requires irrigation earlier than 

 heavy soil. You should sow alfalfa not later than February in such soil, 

 if it is not a very frosty place. To stand the drouth and heat the plant 

 must have time enough to root deeply. 



Harrow or Disk Alfalfa? 



Which is the best to use in stirring or loosening the ground on 

 alfalfa, a spring-tooth harrow, or a spike-tooth disk? 



It depends upon the soil, the age of the stand and what you are 

 doing it for. Each grower is likely to answer it according to his 

 conditions, and therefore all types of alfalfa-agitators are well spoken 

 of. If it is to loosen up the soil crust, the full disk set pretty straight 

 and the spike forms of revolvers will all do it the spikes usually giving 

 most trouble in clogging by winding rubbish. If the alfalfa is well 

 rooted, full disks and spring tooths do not usually injure the crowns, 

 and are widely used. If the alfafa is to be cleaned from grass, etc., 

 the spring-tooth works well. On the whole, there is probably no 

 best tool for the purpose, just as there is no best plow, or incubator, 

 or agricultural editor. Keep trying them until you get the one that 

 suits you. (See also Part III, Vol. 1.) 



Alfalfa Leaf Spot. 



Some disease has destroyed first crop of alfalfa which promised to 

 be good before this last rain. Both that four years old and that sown 

 last spring appear alike. It is in Santa Cruz. 



Your alfalfa has the fungus commonly called leaf spot (Pseudo- 

 peziza). It does not usually do much harm in California, and is more 

 destructive this year because of the extreme aerial moisture. It will 

 be less as heat and dry air come on unless you are in a spot where 



