100 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



that most seed is produced during fairly dry years. 

 The alfalfa grown on high, dry land without irriga- 

 tion seeds best. Large crops are grown by irriga- 

 tion on dry lands, but the irrigation has to be very 

 carefully done not to water the alfalfa too much. 

 When alfalfa is growing rapidly and has abundant 

 moisture, for some reason not well understood it 

 does not produce seed; the blooms fall and growth 

 continues. On the other hand, when moisture is 

 deficient and conditions are much less favorable 

 seed sets abundantly. It is perhaps the old trick of 

 Dame Nature making abundant provision against 

 the extermination of any of her children by provid- 

 ing bloom and fruit and seed whenever the exist- 

 ence of the mother is attacked. 



Attempts to grow alfalfa seed in any state east of 

 the Missouri Eiver is apt to result in much disap- 

 pointment. The humid climate, the lack perhaps 

 of suitable insects to fertilize, and the attacks of 

 rust that affects the leaves make it a very uncertain 

 crop. There are times, however, during very dry 

 seasons, when thin stands of alfalfa in the eastern 

 states will mature profitable crops of seed. 



