DRY-LAND CROPS 



Lucern should never be grown in or- 

 chards as it is apt to withdraw too much 

 moisture from the trees. The cause of 

 the failure of alfalfa is very often due to 

 careless preparation of the soil. New 

 land should be cultivated for one year at 

 least, and better for two or three, before 

 it is seeded. This crop is easy to grow 

 and to keep clean, provided it is sown in 

 a mellow, weedless seed-bed, and no crop 

 responds more generously to good treat- 

 ment. The effect of frequent tillage is 

 really amazing. 



Recently, a new industry has arisen in 

 the semi-arid regions, namely, the grow- 

 ing of alfalfa for seed. It is found that 

 a better quality of seed can be raised on 

 dry lands than under irrigation or in the 

 humid districts of the East. For if too 

 much water is given to the crop during 

 the time of flowering and seed forming, 

 the strength of the plant goes to foliage 

 " 249 



