GROWING BY IRRIGATION. 285 



In hard alkali clays, however, I found it very use- 

 ful to mulch the land carefully with a thin layer of 

 manure when starting alfalfa. This shades the land 

 and prevents the forming of an alkaline crust that 

 would destroy the young seedlings. After the al- 

 falfa had become strong enough to shade the land it 

 grew well with numerous irrigations, needing water 

 oftener to keep it thrifty on these clays than on more 

 open sandy soils. 



After the land is leveled it is well to soak it thor- 

 oughly. This may be done by making temporary 

 furrows which need not be so carefully made as the 

 permanent ones will be. It may be filled with water 

 before it is plowed, and again watered after plowing, 

 if it has much dried out. Then give the final level- 

 ing and make the last set of permanent furrows. 

 These furrows should go straight down the slope. 



The seed should now be sown broadcast. If sown 

 at once as soon as the furrows are made it is likely 

 that it will need no covering, since the wetting will 

 make the earth crumble enough to cover the seeds. 

 Or if it is a soil that will not crumble the land may 

 be brushed with a brush harrow which will cover 

 the seeds deeply enough. 



Next the water is turned in, and here lies all the 

 secret of success after all. Can any man tell another 

 on paper how to irrigate young alfalfa for the first 

 time? If now one can find an old experienced Mor- 

 mon irrigator he will find him worth nearly his 

 weight in gold. 



The First Irrigation. — The principle of the thing 



