In Conclusion 



the wi'iter desires to impress upon the dry-land farmer or the pros- 

 pective dry-land farmer several essential points. 



First, he must make a deep seed-bed. This can only be accomplished 

 by plowing deep. He should use a subsoil plow, an implement helpful 

 in storing water. If land cannot be plowed deep on account of a gravel 

 or sandy subsoil, it is labor lost to attempt to farm it. 



Second discing before plowing in order to insure a compact contact 

 between the bottom of the, furrow and the furrow slice is also neces- 

 sary. If this feature is not obsei'ved, stored water is of no avail. 



Third, discing after plowing and packing, is another feature that 

 cannot be overlooked. 



Fourth, if the rainfall during one season is insufficient to make a crop, 

 summer-fallowing and summer cultivation is necessary, for crops can- 

 not be grown without water. 



Fifth, the culti-packer, as a mulch maker and packer, is invaluable. 

 The maintenance of a surface mulch is one of the prime features in 

 conserving moisture. 



Sixth, a goodly supply of humus must at all times be provided ; other- 

 wise, there will be a deficiency of nitrogen. 



Seventh, to plant other than healthy, plump, acclimated seed usually 

 spells failure. 



ALFALFA 



ALFALFA really needs no introduction to the American farmer. 

 -^"V. It has become famous from the far west to the extreme east and 

 from the northern boundary to the Gulf of Mexico. 



No other crop grown on the farm possesses as many splendid quali- 

 ties as alfalfa. There are sections in the United States where the cli- 

 mate and soil do not seem suited to the plant, but with the great 

 advancement that has been made during the past year in introducing 

 and cultivating different strains, it seems possible that it will soon 

 become a universal stock feed. 



Often failures are due to the farmer not complying with all of the 

 requirements which are essential. This is due largely to a lack of 

 knowledge of the needs of the plant. The eastern farmer who has 

 never raised alfalfa is apt to be governed by statements made by the 

 western alfalfa grower. In Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, Cali- 

 fornia and other states, alfalfa needs little attention. The soil pos- 

 sesses all of the requirements and the climate is ideal, and if the eastern, 

 northern and southern farmers follow directions which are simply to 



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