IN THE ijij^FERENT STATES I05 



growth go to seed and allow it to be trampled into the 

 soil by young stock; but if there is a full stand this is 

 not necessary. We irrigate from streams, applying 

 water as soon as the spring opens and every time a 

 crop is cut, the quantity of water needed depending 

 on the quality of the soil. Drainage is very necessary, 

 especially when irrigation is done in warm weather. 

 After the first irrigation, less water is needed at an 

 application than at first. Winter-killing seems to be 

 effedlually prevented by watering in the fall. 



' ' Alfalfa will attain its best state in three or four 

 years, and its condition after that will depend upon 

 its treatment. We put stock on our land generally 

 after the first and second growth is cut, and the only 

 rest the land receives is when it is being irrigated. 

 I<and in alfalfa for several years we harrow in the 

 spring with a heavy harrow or disk-cutter, and take 

 the opportunity to reseed that which shows lack 

 of vigor. The more sun and the less shade there is 

 the better the growth and the more satisfadtory the 

 yield. We find it more difficult to get a stand than to 

 get rid of it; but, in some instances, where we have 

 wanted the land for orchard, vegetables, or root crops, 

 we found several plowings would destroy it. Without 

 irrigation we have not found the crop very profitable, 

 but there are a few favored spots in the state where it 

 can be grown without water; but when we plant we 

 usually seledl such land as can be put under a perfedl 

 system of irrigation before using. 



' ' I^ongevity of the plant depends on treatment and 

 on the nature of the soil. On heavy ' adobe ' soil it 

 will not live and thrive as long as on loamy soil, and 

 on sandy, light soil it will be of short duration with- 



