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Show SEEDING OF ALFALFA Several Factors in Production of Irrigated Crop. No Fixed Rules Can Be Applied to Meet Various Conditions and Great Deal Depends on Judgment of the Irrigator. The kinds of soil, the kinds of crops, the time of planting, tho amount cr rainfall, tho supply of water and the temperature are all factor In the production of irrigated crops. No fixed rules can be applied to meet all theso conditions and much depends upon the intelligence and Judgment of the irrigator. Confining myself to the preparation ot new lands and the planting of the first crop or alfalfa, i may be able to give some pointers tint might be of benefit to beginners, writes M. V. Cochran in the Northwest Pacific Farmer. The first and moRt Important work Is to level the land. No slipshod work will do. It must not be left until the water can be gently run over every point. If the surface is not sufficiently sufficient-ly pulverlzod, put the spike-tooth harrow har-row on and set the teeth slnntlng. so that the cultivation will bo superficial. super-ficial. This being done, the next step is to get ready for the seed and water. wa-ter. If tne water is to be taken from a ditch the spouts and stops must be in place; if from a flume, which is best, the holes must be made and the stops In place. About the 10th of April is usually the safest time to sow at altitudes of a mile or so. Use 20 pounds of ordinary or-dinary alfalfa seed to the acre and If a nurse crop Is desired 60 pounds of beardless barley can be put in, but the modern practice is to sow the alfalfa straight and forget the grain. The k uiI may be sown either by hand or by wheelbarrow sower. Now put on the harrow again and go over It until all the seeds are nicely covered up nnd ihen go over with the corrugating roller the same way on the grade that the water is to run so that the field may be sub-irrigated. If a corru-gator corru-gator Is not at hand a homo-made marker will answer quite as well. Take three pieces of 2x6 five feet long. Dross the front lower corners like a sled and bolt on each an old cultivator blade. Place tbem 18 Inches apart and spike boards across the top to hold them together, making a platform plat-form to stand upon. Use a 2x6 for a 'jenguo. With this and a gentle team 2e rows can be marked sufficiently straight. f Two very Important things are to be guarded against. The first is the wind and the second is the sun. When the tender plants are Just out of the ground you may go out In the morning and And a good stand and go out in the evening and not find a ingle shoot. The dry surface and the Bun have klllod them and the wind has blown them away. Alfalfa Is a elow grower for the first ten days. After that it is a prize winner for growth, but of course a good deal depends de-pends upon the season as to the warmth of the ground and the moisture mois-ture of the soli. As a rule we do not hnvo to irrigate the alfalfa up In this country nor do we like to do so, but If It Is necessary the corrugations are just what is needed. |