The Raymer enterprise., 1912-03-07
ALFALFA ON DRY LAND
Three Conditions Under Which
Farmers May Try Crop.
First, Where Sufficient Moisture Can
Be Secured, In Locations Where
Pumping Plant Is Handy and
on Deep Soil.

ist, Colorado Agricultural college)
Alfalfa under dry farming condi-
nons can not be expected to grow
with the same measure Of success
that 1t does under irrigation. nor
should the dry farmer expect success
when alfalfa is sown in the same man.
ner that is usually sown under irri.
cation; different system Of cultiva;
ton must be employed.
Alfalfa is very drought enduring
plant when 1t is once well estab.
lished, II Its roots can reach some
deep sub-soil moisture, but It is a mis-.
taken idea that the roots OF alfalfa will
penetrate through dry soil to reach
moisture; 1t Is impossible. It is es.
sential at the very start, In seeding
alfalfa, that there should be moisture
In the sub-soil. 1t is useless to at.
tempt to seed alfalfa on dry land. that
has not been previously deeply plowed
for several years, SO that moisture has
penetrated to considerable depth. II
one contemplates seeding alfalfa, the
best plan is to summer till the pre-.
vious season with clean cultivation.
There are at least three conditions
under which farmers could be advised
to try alfalfa In the dry farming dis.
tricts.
l. Along creek beds or water
courses. where water or moisture from
the underflow would supply the plants
sufficiently to produce a fair crop.
2. In locations that might be wa
tered with pumping plant. or where
the run-off from storms could be d.
verted onto fields, which were ade.
quately ditched and furrowed to re.
ceiye the water that might be avail.
able after heavy storms from land ly.
ing above. There are doubtless many
such spots through the dry farming
sections that could be well devoted to
alfalfa.
3. On deep soil that has good mois-
ture retention. and that has been
deeply titled to establish sub-so!l
moisture, alfalfa could be sown with
n view to producing seed by seeding
In wide rows, Sc to 40 inches apart,
and sown very thinly in the rows.
This has been success In an expert.
mental way at several points in the
United States. and when the condi.
tions are understood, there is doubt.
less great field for some men situat.
ed to engage in alfalfa seed growing.
Under all dry farming conditions It
is advisable to SOW alfalfa in rows
for intertillage, 10 conserve the mos.
ture and to control the weeds, the
width OF the rows depending some
what upon the probable moisture sup
ply Under conditions almost equal
to irrigation, rows is to 20 inches
apart have been successful. but on dry
land which receives only the actual
precipitation OF l2 to Is inches. rows
40 inches apart are necessary, the
stand OF plants In the rows must be
very thin. for the overpasturing OF the
limited moisture supply will be Just
as disastrous as overcrowding a lin
tied water supply with a great herd Of
cattle.
Cultivation Is absolutely essential to
all dry farming crops, and especially
alfalfa, 10 hold the moisture and to
keep clean OF weeds. A thin stand Of
alfalfa II neglected vii become a use.
less weed patch.
There are several difficulties to be
met In growing alfalfa In rows. First,
securing stand Of plants, and fight.
Ing weeds, which can only be met by
thorough preparation OF the soil and
good careful cultivation. Second. blow.
Ing and washing OF the cultivated soil
between the rows by wind and rains.
Selecting the fields not subject to
these troubles Is wise precaution.
and II Is advisable to SOW the rows in
the opposite way to the direction Of
the prevailing winds. but in the same
direction that the water will run best.
This is sometimes impossible to do.
then one has to cater to the most prob.
able danger.