188 



Effective Farming 



often reaches the height of four feet. Stems branch from the 

 crown, or top of the tap-root, and also from the lower part of 

 the stem. The number of stems varies from three to fifteen. 

 The roots are longer than those of any other cultivated herba- 

 ceous plant. In the West on deep soil they have been known 

 to reach a length of thirty feet, while in the East where red clover 

 roots would go to a depth of five feet, alfalfa roots would be 



FIG. 80. An alfalfa field. 



about eight or ten feet long. The leaves are smaller than 

 those of red clover and somewhat more pointed and the flowers 

 are purple and arranged in rather long clusters. 



In semi-arid countries alfalfa has been known to live fifty 

 years and in the humid climate of the East and South fields 

 will be profitable from five to eight years without replanting. 

 Several cuttings of hay can be secured each year ; in the East 

 at least three are usually made and in the South and parts of 

 the West five are possible. A total yearly acre-production of 

 four to eight tons of hay is often secured. Fig. 80 shows a 



