ALFALFA 



291 



in sheds or barns, but in the West, where large acreages 

 are grown, much of it is stored in large stacks. To 

 reduce the bulk for hauling to market or shipping, the 

 hay may be baled when taken from the stack or barn. 

 Alfalfa meal, which has recently appeared on the market, 

 is the Pnely ground hay, which may be fed with less waste. 

 Its feeding value, is, of course, the same as that of hay. 



FIG. 103. Canvas covers employed to protect alfalfa cocks from rain. 



294. Harvesting the seed. Alfalfa does not produce 

 much seed in humid climates. Almost all of the seed 

 grown in the United States is produced in the semi-arid 

 regions of the West or on irrigated lands. The produc- 

 tion of seed seems to be limited to a considerable extent 

 by the amount of soil moisture. There must be enough 

 moisture to enable the plant to mature its seed, but not 

 enough to cause the new shoots to start out from the 

 crown before the seeds are ripe. If the new shoots start 

 out before the seeds are ripe, the yield of seed is greatly 

 reduced. Only in certain sections of the West are moisture 

 conditions favorable for the production of a good seed 

 crop. On irrigated lands, where the moisture supply may 



