GROWING LEGUMES IN DRY AREAS 329 



It is buried about as deeply as alfalfa. Somewhat 

 shallow planting is best, when moisture is ample, but, 

 of course, in order to insure good germination, it must 

 be put down to the moisture. The germination is slow 

 at the best. 



The amount of seed called for under dry land condi- 

 tions, has not been well worked out. European practise 

 sows very large amounts of seed. It calls for about 

 40 pounds of clean and hulled seed per acre, and 3 to 

 5 bushels of unhulled seed. A bushel of unhulled seed 

 weighs about 26 pounds. These amounts would seem 

 to be excessive for western conditions, but this question 

 has yet to be worked out. 



Care of the crop. The treatment of the crop under 

 western conditions is yet in the tentative stage. It would 

 seem probable, however, that the treatment for sainfoin 

 the first season would be about the same as for alfalfa 

 (see p. 317). Where the winters are mild it should en- 

 dure moderate pasturing the first season without injury. 

 Subsequently it may be grazed through the whole sea- 

 son or for only a part of it, hay or seed being furnished 

 by it later. It is an excellent pasture crop. Whether 

 it will endure discing like alfalfa does has not yet been 

 proved, but it is not probable that it will endure treat- 

 ment quite so harsh without suffering injury. As 'in the 

 case of alfalfa, it will eventually be crowded out more or 

 less by grass and some forms of weed life. 



Harvesting for hay. The harvesting of this crop 

 for hay is about the same as the harvesting of alfalfa 

 (see p. 318). The same precautions must be observed 

 to prevent the shedding of the leaves and to insure the 

 drying of the stems before storing the hay. The average 

 yields of hay that may be looked for cannot be given in 

 the present state of our knowledge. The quality of the 

 hay is riot quite equal to that of alfalfa, being a little 

 more woody. 



