436 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 
color it is evidence of a light crop of seed. Again, if the blos- 
soms fertilize properly the flowers dry and stick to the stem a 
few days, while if they are not fertilized they drop quickly and 
the stems stand bare. Even before the bloom falls the circular 
pods are visible. The pods should appear thickly set on the stems, 
two or more in a group, to insure a good seed crop. Finally, if by 
examination the pods are found to be well filled with seed, the 
crop is assured, barring accidents by which the seed may be lost 
in harvesting and thrashing. 
From the above suggestions it may seem to the novice that he 
would be able to judge fairly well when a crop of alfalfa should 
be left for seed; yet old growers do not find it easy to decide. A 
grower who has had twenty years’ experience writes as follows: 
“T cannot tell when a good crop will be made until near matu- 
rity, as the blossoms often fail to seed, and then too much rain 
may cause well-fruited alfalfa to take a second growth and con- 
tinue to bloom and ripen seed irregularly. Also during damp 
rainy weather the ripe seed may sprout, or when the weather 
turns dry the ripe pods may burst, shattering their seed.” It is 
even possible that after a crop is ready to harvest it may be lost 
or badly damaged by excessive rain, causing the seed to sprout or 
the pods to burst when they dry in the sun. 
Relative to saving a crop of alfalfa for seed these suggestions 
may be given: If the weather has been wet and the alfalfa grows 
too rank, cut for hay. If heavy rains fall while the alfalfa is in 
bloom, or before the flowers are fertilized, cut for hay. If for any 
reason the flowers are not fertilized and the bloom falls quickly, 
leaving bare stems, cut at once for hay. Even after the seed is 
formed, if excessive rains come and a second growth starts, cut 
the crop and remove it, because it will fail to ripen seed evenly 
and is almost certain to be an unprofitable crop, and the sooner 
it can be taken from the ground the sooner another crop may 
start and mature. 
When to Harvest for Seed.—The harvesting depends a little 
upon the evenness of blooming and the weather conditions during 
the period of maturing. In a favorable season, with even bloom- 
ing and even maturing of the seed, the rule is to harvest the 
alfalfa when a large proportion of the pods have turned brown. 
In the average season, as the alfalfa matures, part of the seed will 
be ripe while some of the seed is overripe and shattering and 
some is yet immature. With such a crop it is necessary to 
strike an average and harvest when the largest amount of plump, 
sound seed may be saved. 
The opinions of farmers vary widely regarding the proper 
