ALFALFA l8l 



ting is not usually possessed of that vigor necessary 

 to induce abundant seeding in the plants. 



The yields of seed are also much influenced by 

 moisture. An excess of moisture is more unfavor- 

 able to the production of seed than a shortage in 

 the same. Hence, in areas where the rainfall for 

 the season is very abundant, but little seed vi^ill be 

 produced. Where irrigation is practiced, the exces- 

 sive application of water would have a similar effect, 

 though less pronounced in degree ; hence, the appor- 

 tionment of the water to the prospective needs of the 

 seed crop calls for careful adjustment. Where the 

 first crop is grown for seed, where irrigation is 

 practiced, in many instances no water is applied until 

 after the seed crop has been harvested. 



The seed is ready for being harvested when a ma- 

 jority of the seed-pods assume a dark brown tint. 

 The pods of later formation will still possess a 

 yellow tint, and some of them may still possess the 

 green color. These do not produce seed nearly 

 equal in quality to the pods which ripen earlier. To 

 wait for all the later maturing pods to ripen before 

 harvesting the crop would mean the loss of much of 

 the best seed through shattering. Another test of 

 maturity is made by shelling the pods in the hand. 

 When the seed can be thus shelled in a majority 

 of the pods in a single plant, it is ready for being 

 harvested. Alfalfa seed shatters easily ; hence, it is 

 important to harvest the seed crop with promptness 

 when it is ready, to handle it with due carefulness, 

 and in some instances to refrain from handling dur- 

 ing the hottest hours of sunshine. 



