708 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



American or Common Alfalfa. — In order to distinguish it from the 

 eastern types, this is often referred to as Western or Chilian alfalfa. 

 Though somewhat less hardy than the Turkestan it is a more productive 

 and vigorous plant than the German, and withstands cold better than 

 the German or Eastern type, or the Peruvian or the Arabian. In 

 northern states it is surpassed in hardiness by the Grimm and Baltic. 



VARIETIES OF ALFALFA FOR IOWA. 



There are one or two varieties hardier than the common American, 

 but since there is apparently comparatively little winter killing re- 

 ported in Iowa, we recommend for general planting, the common Ameri- 

 can type. Moreover, its seed is much less expensive than seed of the 

 Grimm variety. Where alfalfa has been grown long enough on a farm 

 so that there is a certainty of getting a stand and a particular field 

 is to remain in this crop for a good many years, a farmer might be 

 justified in paying a higher price for seed of the hardier strains. 



Since it is quite impossible to distinguish Grimm alfalfa seed from 

 seed of the common American type a great deal of common seed is 

 sold at a high price under the name of Grimm — perhaps ten times as 

 much as is ever produced. This fact should be considered before pay- 

 ing out money for "hardy" varieties. Great care should be exercised 

 in order to be sure that one is getting what he pays for. If, however, 

 the hardy varieties become grown commonly enough in seed producing 

 regions as to lower the prices of seed they may be recommended for 

 our conditions. 



SEED PRODUCTION. 



Economical seed production is considered possible only in those sec- 

 tions of the country or in those seasons which have but a slight rain- 

 fall. Therefore alfalfa seldom produces a seed crop in Iowa. In 1910 

 and 1911, however, seed was produced in this state, some reporting as 

 much as 5 bushels per acre. With anything like a normal rainfall the 

 plants make a heavy growth of foliage, and while many flowers may 

 be formed, few develop seed pods. The excessive moisture in the soil 

 brings on a new growth from buds or shoots which arise on the old 

 shoots at the crown, and this second growth soon takes the supply of 

 food and moisture which might otherwise produce a seed crop. With 

 a small rainfall this new growth does not come on so quickly, and the 

 flowers receive enough food to develop the seed. 



When it seems desirable to attempt a crop of seed in the more humid 

 regions the second or third crop is usually reserved for this purpose. 

 Most favorable weather conditions for seed production and for harvest- 

 ing are likely to occur late in the summer; also, the second and third 

 crops mature more uniformly than the first. 



When harvesting alfalfa for seed a mower with a bunching attachment 

 is used. This attachment gathers the alfalfa as it is cut, deposits it 

 in small piles from whence it may be threshed direct, if a huller is 

 available, as soon as thoroughly dried. If it is impossible to get a huller 



