GROWING ALFALFA SEED. 433 
the confined stamens and pistil fly up and the pollen is dusted 
against the stigma and over the insect, or, in case of hand pollina- 
tion, the instrument which is used to spring the little flower 
trap. Thus the insect, passing from blossom to blossom, mixes 
the pollen of many flowers, but the hand pollination has shown 
that the blossom may be fertilized with its own pollen. 
Farmers are divided upon this point as to whether insects are 
necessary or useful in the pollinization of the flowers. Many 
maintain that as good crops of seeds were produced many years 
ago, before bees were introduced into a certain locality, as are 
produced now. Others state that in a locality where bees are 
kept there is no noticeable difference in seed yields near apiaries 
compared to yields from fields further away. Such data, how- 
ever, do not disprove the facts as stated above. Doubtless other 
insects besides bees assist in fertilizing the alfalfa flowers. If 
you will observe an alfalfa field in full bloom you will usually 
find it swarming with insects of various kinds—bees, flies, butter- 
flies, millers, ants, and sometimes grasshoppers—although it is 
doubtful whether the latter are of any benefit, and certain it is 
that they are often a pest when numerous. It is quite possible 
that ants are among the important insects concerned in fertilizing 
alfalfa blossoms. There is some proof that bees do assist in pol- 
linating the alfalfa flowers. 
Although reports on this point have not been very authentic, 
there seems to be little question but that bees may assist in fer- 
tilizing the alfalfa blossoms and thus increase the yield and im- 
prove the quality of the seed. At this station alfalfa plants cov- 
ered with fine netting produced no seed except in flowers which 
pushed through or against the netting, allowing fertilization by 
insects from the outside. On the other hand, adjacent plants not 
covered were well filled with seed pods. 
There should be a double benefit to the alfalfa seed grower 
who keeps bees, for not only may he secure larger yields of a 
superior quality of seed by reason of the work of the bees, but 
the alfalfa is one of the most valuable honey plants. In the 
alfalfa districts of the state the yield of honey per hive, according 
to the report of Secretary Coburn of the State Board of Agricul- 
ture, is much larger than in the sections where alfalfa is but little 
grown; and not only may the bees in alfalfa districts make 
double or treble the usual amount of honey, but this honey is 
very superior in quality, unequaled even by the white clover 
honey of the eastern states. “In favorable seasons, 100 pounds 
of honey per hive is no uncommon yield in alfalfa regions.” 
Which Crop to Save,—The region lying west of the Missouri 
