The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1912-04-04
ALFALFA ON DRY LAND
Three Conditions Under Which
Farmers May Try Crop.
First, Where Sufficient Moisture Can
BE Secured, IN Locations Where
Pumping Plant ls Handy and
on Deep Soil.
~ PHTLo <. BLINN. Alialfa speeIal-

Dy PHILO x. BLINN. Alfalfa Special
Est. Colorado Agricultural College)
Alfalfa under dry farming condi-
lions can not be expected to grow
with the same measure Of success
that It does under Irrigation, nor
should the dry farmer expect success
when alfalfa is sown in the same man
e that Is usually sown under irri-
cation; a different system of cultiva-
hon must be employed.
Alfalfa Is a very drought enduring
plant when It 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 viii
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. It Is useless to at
tempt to seed alfalfa on dry land, that
has not been previously deeply plowed
for several years, so hat moisture has
penetrated to considerable depth. If
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 underfow would supply the plants
sufficiently to produce a fair cropt
2. In locations that might be wa
tered with a pumping plant, or where
the run-of from storms could be dt
verified onto fields, which were ade-
q~uately ditched and furrowed to re-
ceive 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.
8. On deep soil that has good mois-
ture retention, and that has been
deeply titled to establish sub-soil
moisture, alfalfa could be sown with
a view to producing seed by seeding
in wide rows, SO to 40 inches apart,
and sown very thlnly in the rows,
This has been a success in an expert
mental way at several points in the
United States, and when the condi-
lions are understood, there is doubt
less a great field for some men situat.
ed to engage in alfalfa seed growing
Under all dry farming conditions II
! 10 oAnfuohIo 70 com 01fnIfn In wnUu
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 IS to 20 inches
apart have been successful, but on dry
land which receives only the actual
precipitation of 10 to 10 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, to hold the moisture and to
keep clean Of weeds. A thin stand of
alfalfa If neglected will become a use
less weed patch.
There T 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 sol
between the rows by wind and rains
Selecting the fields not subject tC
these troubles is a wise pr%ecaution
and 1t Is advisable to SOW the rows in
the opposite way to the direction Of
the prevailing winds, but in the same
direction hat the water will run best
This is sometimes impossible to do
then one has to cater to the most prob
able danger.