alfalfa fields, the pulverizing of surface soil for the conserva- 

 tion of moisture and the splitting of the crowns of the alfalfa 

 plants so as to prevent the latter from becoming too coarse and 

 woody. The disk harrow meets these requirements very satis- 

 factorily. It is widely used in all parts of Idaho for this pur- 

 pose. Here again the severity of the cultivation can be adjusted 

 to suit the needs of the particular field.' Where the crust is 

 only moderately thick, the disk can be run nearly straight. 

 The same is true where the alfalfa is only one year old. Where 

 the crust is heavy or the field weedy and the alfalfa plants are 

 two or more years old, the disks can be run at a sharp angle, 

 and thus do much more severe cultivating than where they run 

 straight. In this way the crowns of the alfalfa plants are 

 divided and subdivided, weeds are killed, the surface soil is 

 well pulverized and practically all the other purposes for which 

 alfalfa is cultivated are satisfactorily accomplished. Ordinarily, 

 the disk is run over the alfalfa field early in the spring before 

 the plants have made much growth. Where only one cultiva- 

 tion is given the field annually, the early spring cultivation is 

 the most efficient. Some farmers get good results by disking 

 in the fall. This is particularly true on the dry lands where 

 the collection and conservation of water in the soil are the 

 primary factors. 



A number of other uses for the disk harrow in Idaho can be 

 enumerated and discussed, but those above are probably the 

 most important. Any one of those named is a sufficient reason 

 why a disk harrow should form a part of every Idaho farmer's 

 equipment. 



