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 what 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—tIn 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 
