CULTIVATION 



77 



to insure a maximum yield of alfalfa, and also experi- 

 ments to determine the minimum application of water 

 required to secure a crop. "It has been found that abun- 

 dant irrigation throughout the season, 6i inches of water 

 being applied, gave a yield of 6.2 tons per acre, while 

 four irrigations in the early part of the season with only 

 25 inches gave five tons per acre, showing that beyond a 

 certain supply the excess is wasted." 



A. S. Hitchcock, in United States Farmers' Bulletin 

 No. 215, speaking of the Utah experiment just mentioned, 

 says that where the supply of water is limited a much 

 less quantity than is ordinarily used will produce paying 

 crop. The minimum quantity .0 produce a cr'op of 

 alfalfa, and the time at which the water should be applied, 

 depends upon the soil and climatic conditions. Below are 

 results of experiments in 1903, by the Utah station : 



WATER REQUIRED BT AI/FAIiFA; QXTAKTITY ANB BATDE 



OF' APPLICATION. 



Date of each irrigation and quantity of water applied. 



First. 



June 16. . 

 June 29. , 

 June 16.. 

 June 29. . 

 June 15.. 

 June 20,. 

 Julys... 

 June 20.. 

 June 15. » 

 June 16.. 

 June 23. . 

 June 10. . 

 June 23.. 

 June 16, . 



A ere in, 



5.970 

 5.070 

 7.020 

 5.030 



6774 

 12.490 



8.303 

 6.320 

 6,250 

 6.250 

 6.250 

 6.610 

 3.980 



Second 



July 29. 

 July 29. 

 July 8... 

 July 8.. . 

 July 3.. . 

 July 8... 

 Aug. 10. 

 July 6!. 

 July 6... 

 June23». 

 July 7... 

 July 7... 

 July 7... 

 July 7... 



Acrein^ 



3-359 

 3-359 

 5.036 



5.100 

 6.694 

 12.506 

 8.352 

 6.24S 

 4.280 

 6.220 

 6.220 

 3.720 

 3.720 



Third. 



Aug. 19. . 

 Aug.6. .. 

 Aug. 19. , 

 Aug. I... 

 Aug. 19. . 



Aug. 19. , 

 Aug. I.,, 

 June 30.^ 

 Aug. 15.. 

 Aug.6. .. 

 Aug. 15. . 

 Aug.6. .. 



Acre in 



3-359 



5-003 

 5.002 



5.036 



6.682 



8.362 

 6.248 



5-705 

 6.250 



6.750 

 3.250 



3-750 



Fourth. 



Aug. 24. . 



Aug. 29. . 

 July 7 , . , 

 Aug. 31.. 

 Aug. 31. . 

 Aug. 31.. 

 Aug. 31.. 



Acre in* 



5,002 



6.3550 



0^5.230 



6.250 



6.250 



3-750 

 3'75o 



Total 



Water 



applied. 



Acre in. 



6.719 

 12.688 

 15.109 

 17.058 

 20.168 

 20.150 

 25,002 

 35,017 

 25066 



24.970 

 25470 



17.330 

 15.200 



oThis plat was given 5 inches of water on each of the following dates: July 14^ 

 [uly 22, July 281 August 4, August i/, August 25, August 31^ September 8. 



