286 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



is to turn out a part of the stream in the large cross 

 or head ditch, letting it into the lesser ditch below. 

 This ditch has been carefully opened into each fur- 

 row. Now the water is to be carefully divided, so 

 that each furrow will have its share and not a drop 

 more. There is needed the least trickling stream in 

 each furrow. If too much is turned in the land will 

 wash, the seed be carried away, the land spoiled for 

 later irrigations. If too little is turned in it will not 

 reach through the rows. Thus the lower end of 

 the field will make a poor stand. It should be so 

 regulated that in about 2-i hours water will be 

 trickling through each row at the lower end and run- 

 ning clear, with no cutting or washing anywhere. In 

 some hot countries it is well to leave the water flow 

 till the plants are germinated and rooted. In other 

 lands to soak well once will suffice to bring the al- 

 falfa up, and it will root and grow for some weeks 

 with the water already stored in the soil. 



Nurse Crops in Irrigated Regions. — As a rule it 

 is better to use no nurse crop when sowing alfalfa 

 in the dry country. I have sown with oats, however, 

 and secured a fairly good stand. I have known it to 

 be sown with spring wheat with good results. It is 

 usually better, ho'wever, to sow alone. 



How Often to Irrigate. — Usually once the alfalfa 

 is up well it is good to let it get somewhat dry 

 before giving the second irrigation. This sends the 

 roots down well and to a degree deters the growth 

 of weeds. The alfalfa ought never to suffer seri- 

 ously for water before it is given, however. 



