FAEM MANAGEMENT OX IRRIGATED FARMS 45 
The very successful experiments conducted b} T some of the farmers 
hare demonstrated to the satisfaction of farmers generally that good 
pastures are one of the most valuable crops in the organization of 
general farms in this area, even on high-priced lands. The most 
usual carrying capacity of good pastures on these farms is from two 
to three cows per acre for seven months. 
Aside from the value of pastures for feeding purposes, some pas- 
tures, particularly sweet clover, are especially valuable in reclaiming 
poorly drained alkali soils. Sweet clover will start on alkali land, 
where alfalfa will not. It not only seems to have the effect of add- 
ing humus to the soil but improves the drainage. On alkali soils 
where artificial methods of drainage have been established sweet 
clover will help to put the soil in shape for the growing of other 
crops. 
To establish a pasture under irrigation, important preliminary 
work is necessary. A fine and firm seed bed is prepared in order to 
provide the most favorable conditions for seed germination and plant 
growth and also to permit the moisture to spread uniformly through 
the soil. Spring plowing is made shallow, not over 5 or 6 inches. 
Fall plowing is generally preferable. Ditches for irrigating are made 
about 18 inches apart and very shallow, giving just enough de- 
pression to keep the water going along in the right direction. 
One of the most prolific sources of difficulty in establishing an irri- 
gated pasture is the failure to maintain an optimum moisture condi- 
tion around the young and tender plants in the early stages of 
development. Light frequent irrigations are usually necessary. 
As the plants become older and stronger the quantity and frequency 
of water applications will depend a great deal upon soil and weather 
conditions and upon the carrying capacity of the pasture. 
Seeding can be done any time between April and October. A 
light nurse crop can be used, but it is not recommended for most 
pastures. 
The kind of pasture to use depends somewhat upon the soil and 
kind of stock to be pastured. A general pasture for this area recom- 
mended by the extension service of the Washington State College 
consists of the following mixture per acre : 
Pounds 
Kentucky bluegrass 4 
Meadow fescue 6 
Orchard grass 3 
Timothy 2 
Alsike clover 4 
White clover 1 
This combination offers good carrying capacity and a variety of 
grasses that insure a long pasture season. 
A very successful general pasture in this area is shown in Figure 
19. This 1-acre pasture, seeded in the late summer, was watered 
twice after seeding. The following spring, beginning May 10, this 
pasture carried four cows, besides four horses on Sundays. The oper- 
ator aims to irrigate every ten days, running the water in overnight. 
It is usually desirable to put in cross fences in order that the pas- 
ture may have a rest every two or three weeks. This not only pre- 
vents the harmful effect of pasturing the land while the ground is 
wet from irrigation, but gives the plants a chance to make leaf growth 
