ALFALFA 281 



from one to three coils, containing from one to eight seeds. 

 The seeds are nominally kidney-shaped, although the 

 coil may compress them into other shapes. They are 

 uniform in color, usually light green, although unfavorable 

 weather at harvest time may cause them to take on a 

 darker green color. They are slightly larger than those 

 of red clover, and this difference, together with their 

 characteristic shape and uniform color, serves as a means 

 of distinguishing one from the other. 



283. Varieties. — Since alfalfa has become an impor- 

 tant crop in this country, progressive growers and experi- 

 ment stations have attempted to produce varieties or 

 strains that will be better adapted and will yield larger 

 returns than the ordinary alfalfa under certain condi- 

 tions of soil and climate. Thus, a variety Avith un- 

 usual drought-resisting qualities would be well adapted 

 to certain regions of the West, and would probably give 

 larger yields than ordinary alfalfa under the same con- 

 ditions. Some progress has been made also in selecting 

 for a higher percentage of leaves, to increase the value of 

 the hay. For the most part, the progress that has been 

 made in the way of securing better adapted varieties 

 has been accomplished by importing seeds or plants from 

 other countries having climate and soils similar to the 

 section where better adapted varieties are desired. Usu- 

 ally the variety is given the name of the country from 

 which it was imported. Thus we find such varieties as 

 Turkestan, Peruvian, and Arabian. Another variety, 

 called Grimm alfalfa, grown in the Northwest, is 

 named for the man who introduced it, and it is said 

 to be more hardy than common alfalfa. Turkestan is 

 also a hardy and drought-resisting variety, and is well 

 adapted to certain sections of the semi-arid West, al- 



