ALFALFA 



2G9 



sidered preferable for dry farming purposes. When produced on unirri- 

 gated lands alfalfa is seeded very thinly. In some cases it is seeded in rows 

 sufficiently far apart to permit of cultivation. Isolated plants that can 

 branch abundantly and receive plenty of sunlight, seed more abundantly 

 than when they are close together. When grown under irrigation, irriga- 

 tion water is withheld during the period of seed formation. The presence 

 of rains or the application of water stimulates the 

 vegetative growth and reduces seed production. 

 Usually the second crop is utilized for seed pro- 

 duction, although in the extreme Northern states the 

 first crop is necessarily used. There are various 

 conditions that influence the yield of seed, such as 

 thickness of stand, moisture supply, conditions favor- 

 able to pollination, etc. Yields of as much as twenty 

 bushels per acre have been reported, but eight bush- 

 els are considered a good yield. Two to five bushels 

 probably represent the average crop. 



Little is known relative to seed production east 

 of the Missouri River, although numerous observa- 

 tions have shown that plants frequently seed quite 

 abundantly. In the corn belt it is quite possible 

 that certain crops could be used for seed to good 

 advantage. The probable yield of seed is indicated 

 if the crop has been in bloom for some time and 

 considerable seed is set before new shoots appear. 

 If dry weather prevails when these conditions are 

 evident there is a fair chance of a crop of seed. 



The hope of securing varieties adapted to eastern conditions lies in the 

 possibility of seed production in the various localities. 



The method of harvesting the seed of alfalfa is essentially the same as 

 that for red clover. 



A Well-set Cluster 

 of Alfalfa Pods. 1 



REFERENCES 



"The Book of Alfalfa." Coburn. 



"Alfalfa in America." Wing. 



"Clovers and How to Grow Them," pages 118-193, Shaw. 



Missouri Extension Service Circular 6. "Growing Alfalfa in Missouri." 



Delaware Expt. Station Bulletin 110. "Alfalfa." 



Wisconsin Expt. Station Bulletin 259. "Alfalfa Growing in Wisconsin." 



U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Bulletin 75. "Alfalfa Seed Production." 



Farmers' Bulletins, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture: 



315. "Legume Inoculation." 



339. "Alfalfa." 



495. "Alfalfa Seed Production." 



'Courtesy of U. S. Dept of Agriculture. From Farmers' Bulletin 495. 



