CULTIVATION 



75 



"The yield of wheat increased up to thirty inches of 

 water. 



"Crops in an arid district require a greater number of 

 pounds of water for one pound of dry matter than in 

 humid ch mates." 



The experiments cited do not include alfalfa, yet the 

 results with other crops would indicate that the percent- 

 age of protein in alfalfa hay may be less where the crop 

 is grown by irrigation than where it is grown by dry- 

 land farming. The composition of the hay, however, 

 will depend upon the quantity of water supplied to the 

 crop and not upon the method; that is, alfalfa which 

 receives as much natural rainfall as other alfalfa would 

 receive by irrigation, would be similarly affected in com- 

 position, and from the experiments with grains reported 

 in the bulletin noted, it would appear that with the appli- 

 cation of large quantities of water the percentage of 

 protein is decreased; yet, the yield is increased, and 

 although the feeding value of the crop may be a little 

 less, the quantity may be greater, due to large applica- 

 tions of water. 



WIDE VARIATIONS IN CONTENT 



Professor Ten Eyck compiled from their station 

 bulletins the following figures on the composition of 

 alfalfa hay in four different states: 



