The new era., 1911-12-28
GOOD ALFALFA STAND
First Requisite With Irrigation Is
Level Land.
Even Distribution Of Water Not Only
insures Larger and More UNI
f form Crop, but Reduces the
Time and Labor.

Time and Labor.
(By L. c. AICHER. Superintendent Cald-
we'll Station.)
The first requisite Of any piece OF
irrigated land 10 good leveling. This
operation should be done before
plowing the field. Plow or disk the
high spots and fresno them into the
hollows, enough 10. at least. that the
water will readily pass over every
foot of the ground. New land
should not be seeded to any peren-
nial crop for irrigation until after
grain or forage crop has been
grown. II this precaution be taken.
all the high spots and irregular
places can be noted at the first irri-
cation, and after the crop has been
harvested these can be removed and
the necessary cuts and fills be made
to insure easy irrigation. The even
distribution of water not only in
sures q larger and more uniform
crop, but 1t also reduces the time
and labor and greatly checks soil
washing.
Alfalfa seed. being very small.
requires firm seed-bed. The finer
the seed-bed, the closer the seed
can be planted to the surface. there
by insuring quicker termination and
first growth. The treatment accord
ed soils should of course vary with
the type of soil under consideration.
Sandy soils in this western country
as a rule are wind-blown soils and
consequently are hard to handle.
These should be left in the stubble
in the winter and in the spring
when irrigation water is available
the soil should be irrigated Qf nee
essary) disked frmed with an acme
harrow, seeded and prepared for tr-
rigation and kept moist mot weD
until a good cover has been Sc
cured Sandy clay and sandy clay
loan soils may be plowed in the
fall and left open to the elements
during the winter. Freezing and
thawing aid materially in good seed
bed preparation. In the spring when
the soil is moist the land should be
double disked and firmed with an
acme harrow, and II enough mols-
ture remains In the surface to ger
inmate the seed readily, the plant
ing should be done as soon after the
acme narrowing as possible. In case
of a lack OF sufficient moisture. the
soil should be carefully irrigated and
the narrowing with the acme harrow
repeated as before. A clay soil should
not be handled when wet. as good
seed-bed cannot be secured.
1t Is always best to plant home
grown seed. as 1t is already accli-
mated to your locality. Insist on
pure, clean, bright seed Twelve
pounds of seed to the acre is ample
for an excellent stand If a proper seed
bed has been prepared. provided, of
course. all the seeds germinate. A ger
mination test can be run while the
land is being prepared and the
rate of seeding determined according
ly. A firm, close seed-bed will germi-
nate higher percentage Of good al
falfa seed than will an open. loose
seed-bed. And coordinate with this. an
open seed-bed will require more seed
to secure the same stand.
The depth to seed should very
with the time of season. the condi-
ton of the seed-bed and the amount
Of available moisture. In spring
seeding very shallow planting should
be practiced as the ground is cool
and moisture as rule Is plentiful.
Broadcasting and narrowing under.
or seeding about an inch deep with a
drill is best under these conditions.
T,, 10
warmer and the moisture not as
plentiful and unless irrigated and
seeded Immediately, deeper seeding
can safely be practiced. But In any
case seeding deeper than one and
one-half to two inches should not be
practiced. If the seed-bed is loose
and little bit rough. the alfalfa
seed must be planted deeper to insure
good termination.
Wherever soil bakes or washes or
the land slopes considerably. either
on spring or summer seeding. it is
best to corrugate for irrigation. The
first Irrigation should not be Of long
duration, but as soon as the soil has
settled and before the ground has
dried out much a second application
should be given and the soil kept
moist thereafter. II this is followed
closely considerable washing will be
prevented.
A level sandy or sandy-clay soil
may be flooded, but the water must
be applied often and not stand on
alfalfa, as it is very detrimental to
successful growth.
Thus the essentials in securing a
good stand of alfalfa on irrigated land
are:
/. Well leveled land.
2. A proper seed bed.
g. Good acclimated seed planted at
the proper rate.
4. Timely seeding and at proper