590 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



m,A^-. 



Alfalfa on farm of Mr. John Hull of Dimondale, showing difference between Grimm and 

 Common Alfalfa. County Agent, Farrand (left) standing in the Grimm and Mr. Hull (right) 

 standing at the edge of it, but in the common alfalfa. Picture taken June 8, 1918, by 

 Dr. Ebeu Mumford. 



and root does not heave or winter-kill as badly as the straighter rooted 

 and higher crowned common alfalfa. 



These variegated strains are crosses of the ordinary purple flowered 

 alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and the hardier, though smaller yellow-flower- 

 ed sickle alfalfa (Medicago fae cata). A variety of colors, purple cream, 

 yellowish, etc., appears in the bloom. Oommon alfalfa is purple or blue 

 flowered. 



The great advantage in northern strains is not always apparent during 

 the first or second year, but usually shows markedly in the sui^erior 

 yield produced from these strains during subsequent years. 



Seedsmen are already quoting prices on Michigan grown seed, and 

 report the production in Michigan of between one liundred and two 

 hundred bushels in 1918. While this is a small start, tlie fact is demon- 

 strated that the production of alfalfa seed is possible commercially 

 under our conditions. 



The work of Plant Breeder, F. A. Spragg, Michigan Agricultural 

 College, has demonstrated that large yields of seed can be secured with 

 fair dependability under Michigan conditions, and indicates that there 

 are great possibilities in the development of seed producing strains, 

 particularly on light soils. 



As a general rule, the second crop is taken for seed. One of the chief 

 reasons why seed iDroduction has not been more extensive is that most 

 farmers growing alfalfa prefer to secure the second crop for hay with 

 •d chance for a third crop. If allowed to go to seed the second cutting, 

 pud usually the third is lost for hay purposes. A yield, however, of 



