Alfalfa in Kansas. 



327 



On one machine the clover-hulling attachment, consisting of concaves 

 with rasp teeth, is used. More often one or more of the regular three-row 

 concaves is filled with corrugated teeth. This is on account of the fact 

 that it is easier to remove the alfalfa from its pods than the clover from 

 its heads. A recleaner can be added which will preform the function of 

 a fanning mill. 



Directions from the company should be on hand at all times and re- 

 ferred too frequently. This will save many an hour in the field and man} 

 a bushel of seed. (See "Threshing," in index.) 



Cleaning and Grading Machines. 



There are but few cleaning and grading machines on the market that 

 will clean and grade alfalfa seed successfully. Some of the foul seed in 



PIG. 274. A fanning mill adapted to recleaning alfalfa seed. 

 [Courtesy U. S. Department of Agriculture.] 



alfalfa is so near the size that the majority of fanning mills will not 

 remove them. 



The machines that seem to give the best results are those that have 

 a vertical air blast and the seed passes down through the blast. 



With any of the mills it requires very careful operation and selecting 

 of screens to do satisfactory work, and a great deal of dependence will 

 have to be placed in the air blast for removing shrunken or light seeds. 



A machine known as the S. S. & S., put out by a company at Denver, 

 Colo., and at Dallas, Tex., can not be recommended too highly for grading 

 seed of any kind. This machine was brought out for grading oats of 

 different specific gravity, and has just recently been put on the market 

 as a seed and grain grader. The machine will grade grain into about 

 ten different gravities, varying only a few ounces or more to the bushel, 

 and is the only machine brought out that will successfully separate 

 dodder from alfalfa seed. The machine requires from three to five horse- 

 power to operate it and costs about $300. It is intended for use in seed 

 houses, but may be handled by a community very nicely, and ought to 



