The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-03-18
LANDS FOR ALFALFA
Sunshine, Temperature, Moist.
ure and Rich Soil Essential.
All Lands in Western Arid Regions
Not Adapted to Its Rapid Growth
Best Indication Of Soil is
Native Vegetation.

| Perhaps the most essential condi
lions for the production Of alfalfa are
4 abundant sunshine, a high summer
temperature. sufficient moisture, and a
rich. deep, well-drained soil. All OF
| these essentials, save moisture, exist
naturally In the arid regions of the
United States. and when water Is sup.
| piled it makes the conditions ideal
| Although alfalfa can be successfully
| grown under wide range of soil con
| ditions. yet all western lands are not
equally well adapted to it's growth
For this reason those who arc seek
ing such lands with view to their
purchase should first make a careful
examination of the character and
depth of the soil, its behavior when
irrigated. the slope and evenness Of
the surface, the presence of injurious
salts, and the facilities for drainage.
One of the best indications of the
character OF the soil is the native
vegetation. When sagebrush. buffalo
grass, or cactus is found on tract
1t Is reasonably certain that the soil
Is fertile, easily titled. and we'll
drained. On the other hand, the pres
ence Of greasewood, saltwort salt
weeds, or similar plants Is indicative
Of heavier soil, less easily cultivated
and irrigated, and containing more or
less Of the injurious salts usually
grouped under the common name of
alkali.
In the arid regions most cultivated
plants are deep rooted. They draw
their supply of plant fod and moisture
from considerable depths, and the
deeper the soil the larger is the feed
ing ground for the roots and the great
er is the capacity to store water. The
presence of any impervious stratum
lying between the first and fifth foot
prevents deep roofing and the storage
of moisture. A hard stratum lying be-
tween the fifth and tenth foot ,is like
wise injurious, but to less extent
The character OF the subsoil may be
readily determined by boring holes,
with suitable soil auger, to depth
of ten feet, If necessary. and taking
samples OF soil at different depths. 1t
will be possible usually to find under
irrigation In near by fields soils sim.
liar to those being examined. but if
this is not possible trial may be
made on small scale to determine
how the soil acts under Irrigation. In
general. sandy loans irrigate we'll:
clay is hard to cultivate when wet,
does not absorb water readily: and
bakes and cracks when drying; while
q soil which is too sandy will not re-
tain sufficient moisture to maintain
crops.
The most favorable condition for ir-
rigating is a smooth surface. with a
uniform slope of ten to twenty feet to
the mile. Such land costs little to put
into shape for the spreading of water
over 1t. and the slope insures good
drainage. Sometimes the land is cut
up by ravtnes which increase the labor
and cost of putting water upon 1t. or
1t may have too much or too little
SLOPE, In other cases 1t Is full of buff
falo or hog wallows which are diff
cult to bring to an even grade. If land
which Is naturally smooth on the sur
face and Of the right slope costs five
dollars per acre to prepare for irrigat-
ing. nog wallow land may cost SIS.
Besides. some hog wallow land Is in
ferior in quality frequently being
charged with injurious salts.