434 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 
River grows most of th2 alfalfa seed produced in the United 
States. A large part of this seed is grown by irrigation in the 
western part of the great plains region, in several of the moun- 
tain states, aud in California. Much seed is also produced with- 
out irrigation in the eastern part of the great plains region. The 
dry climatic conditions of the West make this section of the coun- 
try better adapted for the production of alfalfa seed than the 
more humid regions of the central and eastern states. The best 
quality of seed and the largest crops are produced in an arid 
climate by irrigation. The supply of water and the weather con- 
ditions during the growing period of the crop largely determine 
which crop to save for seed. Any one of a season’s crops may 
produce good seed provided the soil and weather conditions are 
right for growing and maturing seed. About the same time is 
required to produce a crop of seed as is required to produce two 
crops of hay. In the irrigated districts of Colorado and western 
Kansas the first crop is often saved for seed, the practice being 
not to irrigate this crop, thus causing a medium but thrifty 
growth of plant, which, with the favorable weather conditions 
prevailing in the arid regions, usually seeds well. 
On the whole, especially in the more humid regions, the second 
or third crop is more often saved for seed than the first crop, 
mainly because more favorable weather conditions prevail in the 
late summer and early fall for maturing the seed. Also, the in- 
sects which may help to fertilize the blossoms are more numer- 
ous in the latter part of the season. Only in the southern states 
is it possible to use a later crop than the third for seed. 
In those latitudes where the third crop may mature seed be- 
fore cool weather and frost, the choice between the second and 
third crop for seed is decided mainly by the weather conditions 
at and before the blossoming period. If the supply of moisture 
-has been moderate and the alfalfa has made a proper growth and 
little or no rain falls during the blossoming period, the second 
crop will likely seed well. However, if the second crop is rank in 
growth, or heavy rain falls just previous to or when the alfalfa is 
in bloom, it is best to cut for hay. In the non-irrigated area of 
the semi-arid portions of Kansas and other western states drought 
is apt to prevail in the latter part of the season, by which the 
growth of the third crop is greatly reduced, causing only a small 
development of seed. In such districts the second crop should be 
saved for seed, or perhaps the first crop, especially on dry up- 
lands which may produce only one good crop (the first crop) ina 
season. In northwestern Kansas and Nebraska it is doubtless 
safer to use the second crop for seed, as the third crop is apt to 
