Graham guardian., 1912-02-02
GOOD ALFALFA STAND
First Requisite With irrigation Is
Level Land.

Even Distribution Of Water Not Only
lnsurss larger and More unl-
form Crop. but Reduces the
Time and Labor.
(By L. c. AIcHER, Superintendent cald-
well station.)
The first requisite Of any piece OF
irrigated land 10 good leyeling. This
operation should be done before
plowing the feld. Plow or disk the
high spots and fresno them into the
hollows. enough 30. 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 q
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 It also reduces the time
and labor and greatly checks soil
washing.
Alfalfa seed. being very small.
requires Arm seed-bed. The fner
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 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 IL available
the soil should be irrigated (if nec-
| essary) disked hrmed with an acme
harrow, seeded and prepared for ir-
| rigation and kept moist (not wet)
until 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 II enough mois-
ture remains In the surface to ger
inmate the seed readily, the plant
4 ing should be done az soon after the
acme narrowing as possible. In case
/ OF lack OF suficient moisture. the
soil should be carefully irrigated and
1 the narrowing with the acme harrow
repeated as before. A clay soil should
not be handled when wet. as 9 good
seed-bed cannot be secured.
It is always best to plant home
grown seed. as 1t Is already accli
mated to your locality. Insist OF
pure. clean. bright seed. Twelve
pounds OF seed to the acre is ample
for an excellent stand II a proper seed
bed has been prepared. provided. q
course, all the seeds germinate. A ger
mination test can be run while thu
land is being prepared and tht
rate Of seeding determined according
i ". A Arm, close seed-bed will germi
nate higher percentage Of good al
falfa seed than will an open. loos'
seed-bed. And coordinate with this. al
open seed-bed win require more see,
to secure the same stand.
4 The depth to seed should yer.
with the time Of season, the condi
ton Of the seed-bed and the amour
Of available moisture. In sprinl
seeding very shallow planting shoul'
be practiced as the ground is COO
and moisture as q rule Is plentiful
Broadcasting and narrowing under
or seeding about an inch deep with
drill is best under these conditions.
4 In summer seeding the soil l
+ warmer and the moisture not q
plentiful and unless irrigated an
seeded Immediately, deeper seedin
can safely be practiced. But In an
case seeding deeper than one an
one-half to two inches should not
practiced. II the seed-bed is loos
and little bit rough. the alfalf
seed must be planted deeper to insur
good termination.
Wherever soil bakes or washes Q
the land slopes considerably, eithe
on spring or summer seeding, 1t
best to corrugate for irrigation. Tn
first irrigation should not be Of Ion
duration, but as soon as the soil ha
settled and before the ground ha
dried out much a second applicatio
should be given and the soil keI
moist thereafter. II this is followe
closely considerable washing will b
prevented.
A level sandy or sandy-clay SO
may be flooded, but the water mu'
be applied often and not stand Q
alfalfa, as 1t Is very detrimental
successful growth.
Thus the essentials In securing
good stand OF alfalfa on irrigated Ian
are:
). /. Well leveled land.
2. A proper seed bed.
: s. Good acclimated seed planted |
!. the proper rate.
4. Timely seeding and at prop'
depth.
= S And the careful application Of
a rigation water.
ell pa,,itrv aun Dralnaoa.