434 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



River grows most of the alfalfa seed produced in the United 

 States. A large part of this seed is grown by irrigation in the 

 western part of the great plains region, in several of the moun- 

 tain states, and in California. Much seed is also produced with- 

 out irrigation in the eastern part of the great plains region. The 

 dry climatic conditions of the West make this section of the coun- 

 try better adapted for the production of alfalfa seed than the 

 more humid regions of the central and eastern states. The best 

 quality of seed and the largest crops are produced in an arid 

 climate by irrigation. The supply of water and the weather con- 

 ditions during the growing period of the crop largely determine 

 which crop to save for seed. Any one of a season's crops may 

 produce good seed provided the soil and weather conditions are 

 right for growing and maturing seed. About the same time is 

 required to produce a crop of seed as is required to produce two 

 crops of hay. In the irrigated districts of Colorado and western 

 Kansas the first crop is often saved for seed, the practice being 

 not to irrigate this crop, thus causing a medium but thrifty 

 growth of plant, which, with the favorable weather conditions 

 prevailing in the arid regions, usually seeds well. 



On the whole, especially in the more humid regions, the second 

 or third crop is more often saved for seed than the first crop, 

 mainly because more favorable weather conditions prevail in the 

 late summer and early fall for maturing the seed. Also, the in- 

 sects which may help to fertilize the blossoms are more numer- 

 ous in the latter part of the season. Only in the southern states 

 is it possible to use a later crop than the third for seed. 



In those latitudes where the third crop may mature seed be- 

 fore cool weather and frost, the choice between the second and 

 third crop for seed is decided mainly by the weather conditions 

 at and before the blossoming period. If the supply of moisture 

 has been moderate and the alfalfa has made a proper growth and 

 little or no rain falls during the blossoming period, the second 

 crop will likely seed well. However, if the second crop is rank in 

 growth, or heavy rain falls just previous to or when the alfalfa is 

 in bloom, it is best to cut for hay. In the non-irrigated area of 

 the semi-arid portions of Kansas and other western states drought 

 is apt to prevail in the latter part of the season, by which the 

 growth of the third crop is greatly reduced, causing only a small 

 development of seed. In such districts the second crop should be 

 saved for seed, or perhaps the first crop, especially on dry up- 

 lands which may produce only one good crop (the first crop) in a 

 season. In northwestern Kansas and Nebraska it is doubtless 

 safer to use the second crop for seed, as the third crop is apt to 



