THE SEED-BEARING HABIT. 



Alfalfa left alone will bloom and produce seed on 

 the first crop. If no fungus troubles its leaves it 

 •will continue to grow, bloom and produce seed all 

 summer. In Utah the writer has seen bushes of 

 alfalfa more than 6' high, covered nearly all over 

 with bloom and seed. In all humid regions there 

 will be leaf diseases that will make such condition 

 of growth impossible. 



Fertilisation. — The alfalfa flower is probably in- 

 capable of self-fertilization without the aid of bees 

 or other insects. F. Roberts and Geo. F. Freeman, 

 of the Kansas experiment station at Manhattan, 

 have made many experiments in alfalfa breeding. 

 Briefly, in planting a nursery of alfalfa plants, 

 separated from each other about 18", very great 

 variation was observed. One field was planted from 

 seed gathered in Montana, the other from seed of 

 so-called Turkestan alfalfa. The plants in each 

 group varied remarkably in leaf and hardiness and 

 habit of growth. In order to propagate the desirable 

 types, study of the alfalfa flower was made, with 

 its habit of fertilization. The following study or 

 the alfalfa blossom is quoted from Bulletin 151 of 

 the Kansas agricultural experiment station : 



The flower of alfalfa is rather an advantageous one for hand- 

 pollinating purposes. The two wings have projecting processes 

 which overlap, and assist in holding down the curved, spring- 

 like column formed by the united group of stamens which en- 



