18 CULTIVATED FORAGE CROPS OF THE NORTHWEST. 
that he has many times tried to raise cows with calves upon wild hay, 
but that the calves often die of starvation, while when fed upon alfalfa 
both cow and calf remain in good condition. 
SEEDING. 
The soil should be well prepared and finely pulverized, as the young 
alfalfa is a tender plant. In those localities where the rainfall is 
depended upon for the water supply, the seed should not be sown 
until a rain has moistened the soil thoroughly and thus placed it in 
a condition to favor germination. In California the rains come with 
such regularity that the seed may often be sown in advance of a rain 
and thus get the full benefit of the favorable conditions. 
The seed is sown in the spring, except in central California, where 
it may be sown in either fall or spring. In California a common 
method is to irrigate, if necessary, in September or October, prepare 
the soil, and then to sow the seed broadcast with barley, or sometimes 
wheat. There is some danger from frost, and the grain is thought to 
protect the alfalfa. It is best not to pasture the alfalfa the first season, 
but to allow it to obtain a good start for the second season. If sown 
in the spring, the grain is usually omitted. 
In other parts of the Northwest, alfalfa, though sown in the spring, 
is sown either alone or with grain—barley, wheat, or oats. Mr. W. 
P. Noble, of Golconda, Nev., states that alfalfa is sometimes sown with 
timothy in central Nevada. Sowing with grain has the advantage 
that there is a return from the land the first season, while the alfalfa 
is getting started. When sown with grain it is best not to pasture 
the alfalfa or cut it for hay the first season. After harvesting the 
grain, the alfalfa should be irrigated, and for this reason the grain 
should be removed from the field as soon as possible. 
On the other hand, many prefer to sow the alfalfa alone, as in this 
way a better stand is obtained. Under favorable conditions one cut- 
ting may be obtained the first season, but it is not best to draw too 
heavily upon the field the first year either by cutting or pasturing the 
crop. Where the ground is weedy, it may be necessary to cut the 
weeds in the summer; but a still better plan is to previously free 
the soil from weeds by proper methods of cultivation. 
When alfalfa is sown with grain, the two may be sown at the same 
time by means of combination machines which drill the grain and 
alfalfa through the same holes or scatter the alfalfa broadcast in front 
of the grain drill, or the alfalfa may be drilled one way and the grain 
cross-drilled, or the two may be sown broadcast and harrowed in 
separately. The amount of seed recommended by alfalfa growers 
varies from 12 to 80 pounds per acre. When the seed is drilled in, 
the amount required is less than when sown broadcast. The larger 
quantities of seed tend to produce smaller stems and the hay contains 
