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average about 1-12 of an inch long by half as thick. They 

 are about 1-2 larger than red clover seed. 



Alfalfa feeds deep. The taproots descend to great 

 depths wherever the soil is loose and permeable. It has 

 been known to send its roots to a depth of 40 feet and 

 under specially favorable conditions it is believed would 

 go deeper. The young plant consists of a number of low 

 branches sprouting from a simple base at the crown of the 

 root. The branches ascend directly above the ground and 

 form a compact tuft. 



When the stems are cut off the stalk dies back to the base 

 and new buds start out of the crown of the root and grow 

 forming new stems. This method of growth explains why 

 so many report that alfalfa is destroyed by continuous 

 close grazing. The stems of most forage plants when cut or 

 broken branch out above ground forming lateral shoots that 

 immediately grow up and take the place of the old stem. 

 With alfalfa it comes direct from the crown of the root. 



Alfalfa will grow in favorable soil anywhere from sea- 

 level to 7000 feet elevation, it is not influenced as much 

 by altitude as by warmth and depth of soil, the drainage 

 and character of subsoil. It will grow best on a light 

 sandy loam with a loose subsoil. It was generally believed 

 that the plant would thrive best in the regions west of the 

 Rocky Mountains but since 1894 as good results have 

 been obtained east of the Rocky Mountains and a better 

 grade of hay grown where the subsoil was loose and per- 

 meable. Alfalfa will not grow well on land that contains 

 an excess of iron ; it feeds heaviest on lime, potash, mag- 

 nesium and phosphoric acid and succeeds best where these 

 elements are in evidence. Lime is the most essential to 

 its rapid and thrifty growth. Above all, the land must 

 be well drained, naturally or artificially. Alfalfa is seldom 

 a success on land where the subsoil is impervious to water. 



