DRY-FARMING ZONES 



It is highly probable that the method of 

 sowing alfalfa in rows wide enough to 

 permit of inter-tillage, will be found to 

 be the best plan for raising forage as well 

 as for seed production. As Mr. Scofield 

 writes in his monograph on this subject: 

 "It is well known that isolated alfalfa 

 plants when allowed to mature on these 

 dry lands produce relatively large quan- 

 tities of seed. This is probably due, in 

 part, to a better illumination on all sides 

 of the plant, resulting in a larger number 

 of flowers, in part to the drier air sur- 

 rounding these flowers during the pol- 

 lenation period, which appears to have 

 some bearing on seed production, and in 

 part to the greater ease of access for in- 

 sects of various kinds that promote 

 pollenation. It is certainly true that the 

 partial isolation of the plants secured by 

 row planting results in greatly increased 

 yields of seed per plant, and there is 

 191 



