282 FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



though it is no better in humid climates than ordinary 

 alfalfa. 



284. Distribution. Alfalfa is now grown to some 

 extent in all countries having temperate climate. It is 

 grown over wide areas in Europe, Asia, and North and 

 South America. It is an important crop in many of 

 the South American countries, especially in Argentina, 

 where it is said to occupy more than one-sixth of the cul- 

 tivated land. In the United States alfalfa has come into 

 great favor, and its acreage has increased at a remarkable 

 rate within the past thirty years. It is now grown in 

 almost every state, but by far the greater acreage is to be 

 found in the states west of the Mississippi. According 

 to the 1910 census, 4,707,000 acres are devoted to growing 

 alfalfa in the United States, 4,500,000 of which are west 

 of the Mississippi, the New England States devoting less 

 than 1300 acres to the crop. The comparatively small 

 acreage devoted to alfalfa in the states east of the Mis- 

 sissippi is due, in great measure, to its recent introduction, 

 to a general lack of appreciation of its value, and to a 

 lack of knowledge of its cultural requirements. While 

 almost all of the states west of the Mississippi have large 

 acreages devoted to alfalfa, Kansas, Colorado, California, 

 and Idaho have the largest acreages. 



285. Adaptation to climate. Alfalfa has a wide 

 adaptation to climate, as is made evident by the study 

 of its distribution. It is, however, better adapted to 

 warm than to cool climates, but the area of its successful 

 growth has gradually been extended and now reaches well 

 up into Canada. Alfalfa, on account of its deep-rooting 

 habit, is adapted to semi-arid sections, and when once 

 well established, will withstand severe drought. In sec- 

 tions with an annual average of less than 20 inches of 





