THE CHEMICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ALFALFA. 165 
the loss of the first crop. Successful clover-growers the first 
time they try alfalfa often ruin the stand, so that it has to 
be plowed up, by waiting to cut until it reaches the stage at 
which clover is usually cut.’’* 
The Utah ‘Experiment Station for five years cut alfalfa 
at different stages of maturity and fed the crop in producing 
beef. The average production per year per acre was as 
follows: 
Hay. Beef. 
May est LOOM... 2 5ec8 Beis. oods.c. 8: 5.35 tons 706 lbs. 
isaefiet Ws ol OO TG, os cceskeics ons oces otek 4.90 tons 562 lbs. 
Half blooms fallen........ nts 4 cae 4..55 tons 4.90 lbs. 
In order to determine the proportion of dry matter in 
the alfalfa leaves to that in the stems, seven samples were 
taken at intervals of four days, and the leaves carefully 
separated from the stems. The leaves and stems were then 
dried and weighed. The results are given in the following 
table. 





TABLE LXxX. 
DrRY MATTER 
Leaves | Stems 
Per Cent. | PeriCents 
AMERES “S ocossgocanassonasoassodasned edootsonede gbastsesascnoace 42.78 57.22 
ANREWS “ oscndactocozacqaqesocosegnoenagdon, UasdscusHcctooseoneuco 38.62 | 61.38 
| 
Tiras TTC eee ee 40.39 | 59.61 
ANBINS WO oceceanacnen asdcoososospsecsecte: gagdece soso BaceHubaCECS 36.08 | 63.92 
| 
DENS rr asoceccoocdoebsoocecenn Bi iasaceesoaiaocseaehaecy assoc aecise's Sone | 63.68 
| 
YBa 7S ocosssescsssoececocsuceoocece oore ad ebeEmoariobAceanocooo0s 34.68 65.32 
| 
AEWAS BO cecncccennennnacoa0 sec sas boSco ade nao COUNG ROCESS ESOS IEEE 36.08 | 63.92 

An examination of the table shows that after the third 
sample, taken June 11th, which was two days after the crop 
was harvested, there is a noticeable decrease in the propor- 
tion of leaves to stems. Soon after the alfalfa plant begins 
to blossom, some of the leaves turn yellow and fall to the 
ground. We find the largest proportion of leaves to stems 
just before the blossoming period. 
An analysis of the dry matter of the leaves, taken at the 
* Kansas State Agricultural College, Bulletin No. 114. 
