Alfalfa Seed Yields 
7 
Extra large crowns of alfalfa developed from a single seed as they appear growing in the 
field. These are very hardy. But, owing to their low growth, are undesirable for hay 
production. These types are also poor seed producers. 
as those from Ecuador, Peru and Tripoli, gave evidence of having 
the strongest inherent seed setting tendency. These strains ex- 
hibited a small stooling, tall growing type of plant, apparently not 
the most desirable type for hay production. The northern grown 
strains of alfalfa had a heavy stooling type of crown. They pro- 
duced a much branched, fine stemmed plant, which seemed well 
adapted for hay production. In general, the northern strains were 
deficient in seed production. The common strains of alfalfa from 
Colorado, Kansas and Utah were intermediate in type between the 
northern and southern strains. The seed yields and forage produc- 
tion wfre also seemingly intermediate between the northern and 
southern extremes. There were some plants in the common strains 
that seemed similsir to the northern strains, while other plants 
seemed more like the southern varieties. There were plants which 
seemed to combine some of the traits of both northern and southern 
types. It has often seemed that good seed yields and heavy forage 
production were antagonistic traits. Yet numerous instances oc- 
curred where plants were found which seemed to combine these two 
desirable qualities in the same plant. Such plants were found in 
several of the best commercial strains, such as the Grimm and Baltic. 
SEED SELECTION TO IMPROVE SEED YIELD 
It seemed possible to produce a strain having the ability to pro- 
duce a good yield of hay and at the same tiirle a good yield of seed. 
