I04 ALFALFA 



It resists moderate cold, but is frequently killed down 

 by sudden changes from warm to very cold weather. 

 Insedls, animals, and plant depredators have not been 

 of sufficient importance to receive attention. The 

 bottom-lands are much preferable to the uplands for 

 alfalfa, because of the greater fertility of their subsoil 

 and greater water content." 



CALIFORNIA 



Henry Miller, writing of the alfalfa-raising opera- 

 tions of his firm — Miller & I^ux — in San Mateo County, 

 says in part: 



"Since 1871 we have gradually increased our acre- 

 age of alfalfa, until we now have about 20,000 acres. 

 This is on reclaimed swamp and upland, under a com- 

 plete system of irrigation, with the exception of a 

 little light, loamy soil, with water near the surface 

 and no irrigation. On the latter ground the plant is 

 short-lived, on account of the gophers. The depth at 

 which well-water is found varies from ten to forty 

 feet, and, with irrigation, it is immaterial whether the 

 soil is naturally moist or dry. The preparation for 

 seeding consists of deep plowing and cross-plowing, and 

 the depth of planting is not over two or three inches. 

 For light, loamy soils, twelve pounds of seed to the 

 acre is ample, while for hard, rough, new land, from 

 sixteen to twenty pounds is required. Seeding may 

 be done here after the cold season and when danger 

 of heavy frost is past, but in time to take advantage of 

 the spring rains, which are very essential. During 

 the first season the weeds should be mowed as they 

 require it, without regard to returns of alfalfa, and 

 after they are subdued it is well to let the first year's 



