The Ordway new era., 1912-03-08
ALFALFA ON DRY LAND
Three Conditions Under Which
Farmers May Try Crop.
First, Where Sufficient Moisture Can
Be Secured, In Locations Where
Pumping Plant 10 Handy and
on Deep Soil.

(By PHII.O X. BLINN. Alfalfa speciai-
list. Colorado Agricultural College)
Alfalfa under dry farming condi-
tions can not be expected to gro"
with the same measure Of success
that 1t does under irrigation. nor
should the dry farmer expect success
ner that Is usually sown under irr1-
cation: different system OF cultiva'
ton must be employed.
Alfalfa is very drought enduring
plant when 1t ~ once we'll estao-
lished. II its roots can reach some
deep sub-soil moisture. but 1t Is a mis-
taken idea that the roots Of alfalfa Will
penetrate through dry soil to reacn
moisture: It Is impossible. 1t 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 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 a pumping plant. or where
the run.off from storms could be d.
verted onto fields. which were ade'
quately ditched and furrowed to re-
celve 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 we'll devoted to
alfalfa.
3. 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. &c to 40 inches apart,
and sown very thinly in the rows.
This has been n success In IN expert
mental way at several points In the
United States. and when the condi-
tions are understood. there Is doubt
less n great field for some men situat-
ed to engage in alfalfa seed growing.
Under all dry farming conditions 1t
Is advisable to SOW alfalfa In 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 IS to 20 inches
apart have been successful. but on dry
land which receives only the actual
precipitation OF 12 to 15 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 II neglected viii become a use.
less 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 wise precaution
and 1t 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.