440 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



able to thrash from the field, and in a favorable climate or season, 

 if a machine can be secured, this is the safest and most econom- 

 ical method of handling the crop. 



Farmers differ in their opinions as to whether it is preferable 

 to thrash with a huller or with a common grain separator pro- 

 vided with a huller attachment. Some growers favor the use of 

 the latter machine because the work can be done more rapidly. As 

 a rule, however, when farmers have had a chance to use both 

 kinds of machines, and have compared their work, the huller is 

 preferred. Although it takes longer to thrash with a good huller, 

 yet with a good crop enough more seed may be secured to amply 

 pay for the extra time and expense required; in fact, the owner 

 of a huller will often pay something for the privilege of thrash- 

 ing over again the straw-stacks left by the common thrasher. 

 Among the machines used, the Birdsell huller is well recom- 

 mended; also the Advance thrashing separator with huller at- 

 tachment has received favorable mention. One farmer who has 

 used both machines prefers the Advance thrasher to the huller. 



Storing and Marketing the Seed. A good method is to sack 

 the seed and store in a dry place which may be kept free from 

 mice and rats. It is stated by some growers, however, that mice 

 and rats will not touch alfalfa seed when they have free access 

 to other grain. 



The seed should be cleaned with a good fanning-mill before 

 selling, and all light seed, dirt and weed seed removed as far as 

 possible. This extra work is usually well paid for in the better 

 price received for clean seed. If the alfalfa is green or damp 

 when thrashed, the seed had best be spread twelve or eighteen 

 inches deep on a tight floor in a dry place and shoveled over once 

 or twice to dry before it is cleaned and sacked. Prime alfalfa 

 seed should have a bright, clear, light-golden or slightly greenish 

 color. Seed which has been wet or bleached in the field will be 

 darker in color, while heated seed will have a brownish dead 

 color, indicating its lack of vitality. 



From the grower's standpoint, the best time to sell the seed is 

 when the price is highest. Prime seed usually sells at a high 

 price early in the fall, when there is apt to be a shortage of seed 

 for fall sowing, and again early in the spring, about March 1, 

 seed often brings the highest price, depending largely upon the 

 supply and demand. Alfalfa seed retains its vitality for several 

 years if carefully stored and saved, and it may often be to the 

 interest of the grower, when seed is plentiful and the price low, 

 to hold the seed for a better market. 



Aside from its use for sowing, alfalfa seed has a standard mar- 



