312 FOEAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



375. Distribution of the alfalfa crop. The regions in 

 which alfalfa is prominent as a crop are those possessing 

 the proper climatic conditions, or in lieu of this, unusually 

 favorable soil conditions. Thus the crop is important 

 in the western United States, the Mediterranean region, 

 Australia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, South Africa and 

 Central Asia because of favorable climate. Regions with 



FIG. 33. Map of the United States and Canada showing acreage of 

 alfalfa. Figures = acres. 



less favorable climate, but with an unusually favorable 

 limestone soil occur in Mississippi, Alabama, New York, 

 Ohio and other states and in portions of Europe. 



The present northernmost limit of American culture 

 is near the 51st parallel of latitude, in Assiniboia. In 

 Colorado it is grown successfully at an altitude of 8637 

 feet, and one field 14 years old is recorded as being 7900 

 feet above sea level. 



The accompanying map shows the distribution of the 

 crop by acres in the United States and Canada. 



