ALFALFA I 45 



satisfactory, more especially where water can be put 

 upon the land, but it will also succeed frequently in 

 the absence of irrigating waters. In some instances 

 the disking and sowing are both done by the same 

 implement, which is driven both ways across the 

 field. 



Alfalfa is sometimes sown, and with profit, on 

 steep hill sides which are inclined to wash. When 

 set on these it tends to prevent the washing of the 

 land. In such situations it is better to sow with a 

 nurse crop, which will help to hold the soil until 

 the alfalfa becomes rooted. Where land is so loose 

 as to blow and irrigation cannot be practiced, only 

 as much should be sown each season as can be cov- 

 ered with stable litter and well-rotted straw drawn 

 out at the proper season. 



Sowing. — The best season for sowing alfalfa will 

 depend upon such conditions as relate to soil, mois- 

 ture and climate. On rather stiff clay soils, the other 

 conditions being right, the most satisfactory results 

 are obtained from sowing the seed in the spring, 

 and on land that has been plowed in the autumn 

 and exposed to the mellowing influences of winter. 

 But to this there may be some exceptions. On lands 

 so light as to lift with the wind, that season should 

 be avoided in sowing, if possible, when lifting winds 

 prevail. Such winds are common in some .localities 

 in the spring, and may uncover the seed in some 

 places and bury it too deeply in others. 



Where moisture is deficient the seed must be sown 

 at those times when it is most plentiful. This may 

 be in the autumn, but more commonly it is in the 



