The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1911-04-08
DRY FARM ALFALFA
When Well Established It Will
Survive Droughts.
Its Deep Roofing Tendency May En-
able Crop to Grow Without irriaa-
tIon II Roots Can Penetrate
Moist Soll-Number to Acre.

tion II Roots Can Penetrate
Moist Soll-Number to Acre.
II farmer on the dry plains has
well that will furnish just enough wa
ter for so head of stock, it would be
folly for him to try to keep 60 or rs
head on the same supply of water and
1t is equally ridiculous for him to at
tempt to crowd plants in soil where
the moisture is limited Some plants
may develop with less moisture than
others, but alfalfa is not one of them.
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 it is
well established, alfalfa will endure
long droughts and still revive when
water is applied. To that extent, 1t Is
adapted to dry farming and its deep
roofing tendency may enable the crop
| to grow without irrigation if the roots
can penetrate to moist soil. There are
many localities on the plains where
| the run-off from heavy showers could
be collected and diverted by bitches
upon soil suited to alfalfa, writes P. X.
Blinn, in the Denver Field and Farm.
/ Often in a draw, where moisture from
the surrounding prairie is inclined to
center, good encouragement for seed
| ing to alfalfa is offered. The num-
Der of plants to the acre that can be
maintained in the dry farming dis
| fV;o hoc MI lo@ I1,,t
small tract at Rocky Ford without
| irrigation for IL previous months
produced at the rate of two and three
fifths tons the acre the first cut
ting, and 1t made a second growth
equally as good that was left for seed
The plat had been seeded the previous
year to Turkestan alfalfa and thinned
to single plants 20 inches apart each
way. 1t received one irrigation and
was thoroughly cultivated that year.
The growth the following year was
made on the moisture that was
stored and conserved in the soil but
such phenomenal yields can hardly be
expected without irrigation. In favor
ed spots, however, alfalfa can certain
ly be grown II once established and
properly managed. The growing of al
falfa seed offers great opportunities to
the farmer on the dry lands, because
the fact has been well demonstrated
that alfalfa yields seed best when the
plant makes slow, dwarfed growth,
when it really lacks for moisture, but
has enough to set and fill the seed
When grown under dry conditions the
seed has more vigor and vitality than
that produced with an excess of moist
ure, and 1t Is usually free from dod
der and other noxious weeds, If the
field has had any cultural care. There
is demand for dry land alfalfa seed
that far exceeds the supply. In es
tablishing alfalfa for seed production
under dry conditions 1t Is recommend
ed to sow in rows Is or 20 inches apart
with two to three pounds of good seed
to the acre. A thin, uniform stand is
absolutely necessary, even to thin
ming, as in beet culture, but the stand
; can usually be regulated by the
amount of seed sown. 1t has been
found that plants 20 inches apart
will support each other and not lodge
or lay on the ground, as In the thicker
or thinner stands. With good stool
Ing variety like the Grimm or the
Turkestan, plants SIX to twelve inches
apart In the row are thick enough Il
all the seed would terminate, one
pound the acre would be ample
f but it is difficult to SOW a small guam
! tity uniformly In the row and for seet
production, it might pay to space ant
! Thin the plants. The row system is
: essential, as it permits inter-tillage tt
/, eradicate weeds and to conserve the
. moisture and also allow deep cultiva
ton to absorb winter storms, allowing
an opportunity to farrow out the row!
and to direct or divert any surface wa
ter that may or may not be needed
. 1t is the only system that will ALLOW
{ the tillage so essential to all dry farm
, Ing. The four-row beet cultivator
with its wedding knives and other at
tachments, is an ideal implement TO
, cultivating the crop. A four-row drill
adapted to SOW alfalfa seed is needet
to complete the equipment, but tn
ordinary beet drill, with the addition
of an alfalfa or grass seeder attach
ment, can be modified to suit the work
The seed should be sown shallow, no
over an inch deep. and good result
have been secured with the common
garden drill by marking out the groun
with the rows gagged in sets of fou
to correspond to the four-row cultiva
> tor. Where there is an opportunity t
= nse irrigation or flood water, the feel
should be ditched in every other row
and the burrows logged out with sic
made of short logs eight to ten inche
X In diameter. and from three to fou
j feet long, spaced to fit two burrows 8
that the water may be run through a
# quickly as possible, for the alfalfa Gro
o for seed will need as little water a
J? can be applied. A short rush of waite
after a sudden shower can be deliver
ed over considerable ground If tn
field is properly ditched The grea
d secret In this country is to save a
moisture from every source