Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1912-11-02
ALFALFA ON DRY LAND.
Three Conditions Under Which Farm
ers May Try Crop.

Alfalfa under dry farming condi-
tons cannot be 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 drouth enduring
! plant when IT is once well established,
II Its roots can reach some deep sub
soil moisture. but it is a mistaken idea
that the roots of alfalfa will penetrate
through dry soil to reach moisture; it
Is impossible 1t is essential at the
very start. in seeding alfalfa, that
there should be moisture in the sub
soil 1t is useless to attempt to seed
alfalfa on dry land. that has not been
previously deply plowed for several
years, so that moisture has penetrated
to considerable depth. If one contem
plates seeding alfalfa then the best
plan is to summer till the previous
season with clean cultivation.
There are at least three conditions
under which farmers could be advised
to ry 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.
Z. In locations that might be wa
tered with a. pumping plant. or where
the run-off from stomrs could be di
verted onto the fields, which were ade-
quately ditched and furrowed to re
ceive he water that might be avail
able after heavy storms from land ly
ing above. There are doubtless many
sections that could be well devoted to
alfalfa.
3. On deep soil that has good mois-
ture retention, and that has been deep
ly titled to establish sub-soil moisture
alfalfa could be sown with view to
producing seed by seeding in wide
rows. This has been success in an
experimental way at several points in
the United States. and when the condi-
tions are understood, there is doubt
ated to engage in alfalfa seed growing
Under all dry farming conditions il
is advisable to sow alfalfa i'll rows
for intertillage, to conserve the mois-
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 l8 TO 20 inches
apart have been successful, but on dry
land which receives only the actual
precipitation of II to Is inches, rows
~ 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 limit
ed water supply with a great herd Of
cattle.
Cultivation is absolutely essential to
all dry farm crops, and especially al
falfa. to hold the moisture and to keep
clean OF weeds.
A thin stand of alfalfa il neglected
will become a uselcs weed patch.
There are several difficulties to be
met in growing alfalfa in rows. First,
securing a 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 a wise precaution,
and it is advisable to SOW the rows in
the opposite way to the direction ci
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
probable danger.-Philo X. Blinn, Al
falfa Specialist. Colorado Agricultural
College.