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. 
Fertilization—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 ce group of stamens which en- 
