Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-12-28
GOOD ALFALFA STAND
First Requisite With Irrigation Is
Level Land.
Even Distribution of Water Not Only
lnsures Larger and More Uni
form Crop, but Reduces the
Time and Labor.

wen 0ldllOH.)
The first requisite of any piece OF |
irrigated land is good leveling. This
operation should be done before !
blowing the field. Pillow or disk the
high spots and fresno them into the
nollows, enough so, at least, that the
water will readily pass over every
foot of the ground. New land
should not be seeded to any peren-
NAL crop for irrigation until after
grain or forage crop has been
grown. If 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 larger and more uniform
crop, but it 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 Gf nee
| essary) disked firmed with an acme
harrow, seeded and prepared for ir-
rigation and kept moist mot wet)
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 frmed with an
= acme harrow, and if enough mois-
5 ture remains in the surface to ger
3 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 a good
seed-bed cannot be secured.
1t Ia always best to plant home
grown seed, as it 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 proper seed
bed has been prepared. provided, OF
:, course, all the seeds terminate. 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 GERM
nate a higher percentage of good al
- falfa seed than will an open, loose
Is seed-bed And coordinate with this, ar
A. open seed-bed will require more seec
to secure the same stand
. The depth TO seed should very
with the time of season, the condi
y ton of the seed-bed and the amour
] of available moisture. In spring
seeding very shallow planting SHOULD
ie be practiced as the ground is coo
and moisture as a rule is plentiful
" Broadcasting and narrowing under
or seeding about an inch deep with
s. drill is best under these conditions.
In summer seeding the soil /
lie warmer and the moisture not a
st plentiful and unless irrigated an
seeded Immediately, deeper seedin
tn can safely be practiced. But in an
sg case seeding deeper than one an
one-half to two inches should not b
st practiced. If the seed-bed is loos
n and a little bit rough, the alfalf
seed must be planted deeper to insur
e- good termination.
De Wherever a soil bakes or washes O
the land slopes considerably, eithe
ed on spring or summer seeding, 1t
en- best to corrugate for irrigation. Tn
first irrigation should not be of Ion
ne duration. but as soon as the soil ha
es' settled and before the ground ha
dried out much a second applicatio
OF should be given and the soil KEEL
he moist thereafter. II this is followe
closely considerable washing will
rs prevented.
VI A level sandy or sandy-clay so
may be flooded. but the water mu
-er be applied often and not stand c
nu alfalfa. as it is very detrimental
successful growth.
~, rs Thus the essentials in securing
IN good stand of alfalfa on irrigated lar
are:
NO 1. Well leveled land.
up 2. A proper seed bed.
.di- 3. Good acclimated seed planted
the the proper rate.
4. Timely seeding and at prop
OF depth.
ing And the careful application of
ner rigation water.
i've
Irritation In EQypt.