Common Alfalfa for Rotations 



Farmers of the Eastern and Middle-Western States who are grow- 

 ing alfalfa in short three or four year rotations, as they do red clover, 

 will generally find common alfalfa hardy enough to produce good 

 yields for one or two years. But most farmers want alfalfa for a 

 permanent hay crop. They want fields that will last eight or ten 

 years. If common alfalfa fills_this requirement let well enough alone. 



In the Eastern States much of the alfalfa seed offered on the mar- 

 ket has been imported from Russian Turkestan. We speak of it as 

 imported or Turkestan alfalfa. This seed is often infested with 

 buckhorn. Then the fact that it generally has a short fall groA th 

 and tendency to produce only two good crops if three, the third is 

 rather light has brought it into disrepute. (See Pig. 38.) 



Turkestan Hardy 



I have tried out some imported Turkestan seed and have found it 

 hardy, lasting longer than common alfalfa and always having a de- 

 cided tendency to go into a protective state of dormancy early in 



Fig. 52. White Seeds in Turkestan. 



Imported Turkestan alfalfa seed either has a dull grayish color or if 

 polished the surface feels much rougher than American grown seed. It can 

 also be identified by the distinct presence of ivory white seeds of Russian 

 Knapweed which are generally considered harmless. They are seldom found 

 in seed from any other source. 



the fall. But, due to the superiority of the variegated alfalfas and 

 the uncertainty of origin, the Turkestan alfalfa seed or seed imported 

 from any other source has not been encouraged or endorsed. 



Fortunately commercial Turkestan alfalfa seed can be identified 

 in most cases by its lighter grayish color or rough surface and the 

 almost always present ivory-white seeds of Russian knapweed, which 

 are seldom if ever found in alfalfa seed from any other source. 



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