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 
