YIELD OF ALFALFA. 251 



on one acre on Woodland Farm repeatedly and has 

 known of much heavier yields elsewhere, has not 

 estimated that even good alfalfa would yield more 

 than five tons to the acre, and in fact advises grow- 

 ers to be grateful if they get four tons — grateful, 

 but not satisfied, as they should begin at once to con- 

 sider in w'hat way they can bring up their average 

 yield. 



It is unfair to the alfalfa plant to assume that it 

 has no greater producing power than red clover, 

 given the same amount of moisture. It probably 

 makes much better use of its water than does red 

 clover. And some varieties of alfalfa can do more 

 with a given amount of water than can other varie- 

 ties. Unfortunately we do not yet find any variety 

 specially adapted to dry soils and hot climates that 

 is at home in a rainy land or will do as much there 

 as common alfalfa. 



Increasing Water-Holding Capacity. — In what 

 way can the water-holding capacity of the land be 

 increased? By deep draining, first, since that lets 

 the alfalfa roots feed down deep. By deep plowing 

 next. By use of the subsoil plow. The latter is in 

 many soils a very potent factor in increasing the 

 yield of alfalfa in dry years. 



Yields Under Irrigation. — In irrigated regions 

 rainfall is of course not a limiting factor. There 

 soil fertility, length of season and systems of man- 

 agement control the yield very largely. I feel cer- 

 tain that I have grown nearly 10 tons of dry alfalfa 

 hay per acre on good land in a valley of Utah, under 



