ALFALFA 325 



Yellow or sickle alfalfa differs markedly from true 

 alfalfa, in that the shoots are usually procumbent or pros- 

 trate, and a second crop is but rarely produced, correlated 

 probably with the production of rootstocks. 



Variegated alfalfa, at least in its commercial forms, 

 behaves much like ordinary alfalfa, but the shoots are 

 not so erect. In Germany, according to Werner, the 

 new growth after cutting is less prompt than in common 

 alfalfa, and the yield less. 



Dillman found at Bellefourche, South Dakota, that a 

 well-grown plant of alfalfa will produce in the first cutting 

 134 to 192 grams of hay. 



388. Relative proportion of leaves, stems and roots. - 

 Headden in Colorado has estimated the ratio of roots 

 to tops to be as 1 : 1.3, based on the weights obtained from 

 thirty-two plants. At the Delaware Experiment Station 

 the roots and tops in one acre were determined respectively 

 as 1980 and 2267 pounds. Ritthausen in Europe found 

 the average percentage weight of leaves to stems in alfalfa 

 hay to be 48 to 52. Cottrell in Kansas found an average 

 relation of 45 parts leaves to 55 of stems. In very leafy 

 plants, the proportion was 49 to 51 ; and in very stemmy 

 individuals, 41 to 59. 



The subject has been further studied at the Utah Ex- 

 periment Station by Widtsoe, who determined the rela- 

 tive percentage of leaves, stems and flowers at nearly 

 every stage of growth for the first, second and third 

 cuttings. In the following table are shown the data 

 obtained from the first and second cuttings made when 

 the plants were in bloom. It will be noted that the 

 percentage of leaves decreases as the plants grow 

 older, and that the second crop is less stemmy than the 

 first : 



