Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-05-07
IT HAS ITS PLACE, BUT FOR HAY
CROP NEEDS PLENTY OF
MOISTURE.
ENDURES LONG DROUTH
GROWING ALFALFA SEED CAN BE
MADE PROFITABLE ON
DRY LAND.
BY p. X. Blinn.
Colorado Agricultural College

Colorado Agricultural College.
If a farmer on the dry plains has
well that will furnish Just enough
Iater for fifty head OF stock. 1t would
be absurd for him to try to keep sixty
or seventy-five head on the same sup
rly of water; and 1t Is equally ridicu-
lous for him to attempt to crowd the
plants in soil where the moisture is
limited.
Some plants may develop with less
moisture than others. but alfalfa Is not
one OF these plants; on the other hand
It is conceded by all western farmers
that an abundance of moisture is the
key to success in growing alfalfa for
hay.
When 1t Is well established, alfalfa
will endure long droughts and still re-
vive when water is applied: to that
extent, 1t is adapted to dry farming"
and its deep-rooting tendency may en-
able the crop to grow without irriga-
ton, II the roots can penetrate to the
u.oist soil.
The number OF plants to the acre
that can be maintained in the dry
farming" district has not been deter
mined: but at Rocky Ford. Colorado.
A.
out irrigation for eleven previous
months, produced at the rate OF two
and three-fifths tons per acre the first
cutting; and then made a second
growth equally rs good. that was left
for seed. The plat had been seeded in
1907 to Turkestan alfalfa and thinned
to single plants twenty inches apart
each way. 1t received one irrigation,
and was thoroughly cultivated that
year. The growth in 1908 was made
en- the moisture that was stored and
conserved In the soil. but such phe-
nomenal yields can hardly be expected
without irrigation. In the favored
spots. before mentioned. alfalfa can
certainly be grown II once established
and properly managed.
The growing of alfalfa seed offers
great opportunities to the farmer on
dry lands. because the fact has been
we'll demonstrated that alfalfa Yields
seed best when the plant makes a slow
dwarfed growth, when 1t really lacks
for moisture, but has enough to set
and fill the seed.
Seed grown under dry conditions has
more vigor and vitality than seed pro-
duced with an excess Of moisture, and
1t is usually free from dodder and
other noxious weeds II the field has
had any culture care. There IL de-
mand for dry land alfalfa seed that far
exceeds the supply.
In establishing alfalfa seed for pro.
duction. under dry conditions. It Is re-
commended to SOW In rows eighteen
or twenty inches apart. with two to
three pounds of good seed per acre.
A thin. uniform stand is absolutely
necessary. even to thinning. as in beet
culture; but the stand can usually be
! h,,x hn Of
II has been found that plants twenty
inches apart will support each other
and not lodge or lay on the ground as
I'm thicker or thinner stands. With n
GOOD stooling variety like the Turkes-
tan. plants six to twelve inches apart
In the row are thick enough. If all
the seed would germinate. one pound
Der acre would be ample. but 1t Is dif-
ncult to SOW n small quantity uniform
ly In the row, and for seed production
II might pay to space and thin the
plants.
The row system is essential, as 1t
permits inter-tillage to eradicate
weeds, and to conserve the moisture,
and also allows deep cultivation to alb
sorb winter storms, affording an op-
portunity to furrow out the rows and
to direct or divert any surface water
that may or may not be needed. II is
the only system that will allow the
t.llage that is SO essential to all dry
farming.
The four-row beet cultiyator. with
its wedding knives and other attach
ments, is an ideal tool for cultivating
the CROP A four-row drill adapted to
sowing alfalfa seed is needed to com
plete the equipment. but the ordinary
beet drill. with the addition Of an al
falfa or grass seeder attachment, can
be modified to suit the work.
The seed should be sown shallow.
not over an inch deep. and good re-
suits have been secured with the COM
mon garden drill by marking OUT the
ground with the rows gauged in sets
of four to correspond with the four
row cultivator.
Where there is an opportunity to
use irrigation or flood water. the field
should be ditched in every other row,
and the burrows logged out" with a
sled made OF short logs. eight to ten
inches in diameter and from three to
four feet long. spaced to fit two fur
rows, SO that the water may be run
through as quickly as possible. for the
alfalfa crop for seed will need as little
water as can be applied. A short rush
of water after a sudden shower can
be delivered over considerable ground
II the field is properly ditched.