328 DRY LAND FARMING 



lime and somewhat dry in character. This means that 

 it should possess relatively high adaptation for many of 

 the soils of the west, which, as a rule, are unusually well 

 supplied with lime. This plant should, therefore, 

 give a good account of itself on the volcanic ash soils 

 of the far west. On soils saturated from seepage water 

 or water from other sources, it should not be sown. 



Place in the rotation. Sainfoin, like the clovers, 

 should follow a cleaning crop. As it should remain in 

 the soil from year to year for several years when a stand 

 is once obtained, it ought to be sown only on well cleaned 

 land. It should, therefore, follow summer-fallow, or a 

 cultivated crop. It may be followed with much of fit- 

 ness by flax or other small grain, or by a crop of corn. 

 The enrichment which it brings to land should increase 

 crop production in a marked degree. 



Preparing the soil. The preparation of the soil for 

 sainfoin is much the same as for alfalfa (see p. 314). 

 It is especially important that sainfoin shall be sown 

 on clean land, as intimated above, for the reason, first, 

 that it is to remain in the soil for several years, and, sec- 

 ond, that like alfalfa it is not well able to contend with 

 weeds. 



Sowing. The best methods of sowing sainfoin un- 

 der the conditions that obtain in the semi-arid west have 

 not been worked out as yet. It would seem correct to 

 say, however, that the crop should be sown in the 

 early spring, without a nurse crop. The question of 

 varieties has not yet been raised in this country. 



The seed is sometimes sown in the hulled form, but 

 it would seem correct to say that more commonly it is 

 sown while yet unhulled. When thus sown it may be. 

 readily put into the soil with the ordinary grain drill. 

 When sown in the hulled form, it may be necessary to 

 mix it with some substance, as mealor road dust. 



