ALFAJ.FxV. 



ALFALFA. 











the; celebrated ai,fal,fa pi,ant and root. 



The plant represented in this plate grew in a rich, loose soil, with a heavy clay subsoil and an abundant 

 supply of water, the water level ranging from 4 to 8 feet from the surface at different seasons of the year. 

 The diameter of the top was IS inches, and the number of stems 360. The plate shows how these crowns gather 

 soil around them, for the length of the underground stems is seen to be several inches, and this represents the 

 accumulation of nearly this much material about it. 



This is one of the largest plants that I have yet found. The specimen, as photographed, was dug April 

 30, 1896.— £)>-. Headden, in Bulletin No. J5, '•Alfalfa.'' 



utes in going through it— not acres, but 

 miles and miles of it as far as the eye could 

 reach on each side of the track; and stacks 

 and stacks of it, aggregating 100 tons to the 

 pile, more than one could count if he were 



to try. Imagine, if you please, the effect of 

 seeing such a field all in bloom, and mowing- 

 machines going through it cutting it down. 

 Imagine, too, the happy hum of the bees go- 

 ing to and from these immense fields. Then , 



