346 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



out was 19,599 pounds, a loss of 35.7 per cent, and besides 

 7007 pounds were spoiled. Neither the cut nor the whole 

 alfalfa silage proved satisfactory in two years' trial. 



411. Alfalfa meal. In recent years, finely ground 

 alfalfa has been placed on the market under the name of 

 alfalfa meal. The best quality of meal is bright pea green 

 in color, as this indicates that it has been made from the 

 best quality of hay. The product is very convenient to 

 use in mixed feeds, as there is practically no waste such 

 as occurs with hay. It usually commands a price about 

 25 per cent higher than prime alfalfa hay. 



The ground material contains no more nutriment than 

 hay of the same quality, and its digestibility is probably 

 not increased materially. The justification for its use lies 

 in the convenience in feeding, and the avoidance of waste. 



412. Seed production. Alfalfa seed is rarely grown 

 commercially except in semi-arid regions. In humid 

 regions, the production of seed is small except in seasons 

 when drought prevails. At the present time, about one- 

 half of the commercial seed is grown on irrigated lands in 

 regions of dry summers. Moisture from rain or irriga- 

 tion after the alfalfa plants are in bloom will stimulate 

 new growth from the crown, which greatly reduces the 

 seed yield. When a seed crop is desired, irrigation is 

 withheld until the seed has been harvested. Usually the 

 second crop of alfalfa is allowed to produce seed, but in 

 the northernmost states of the West, it is necessarily the 

 first crop, as the second will not mature, and in the South- 

 western States the third crop is often preferred for seed. 



Various factors affect the amount of seed that alfalfa 

 plants produce. The most important are the thickness 

 of stand, moisture supply, and conditions favorable for 

 tripping. 



