Alfalfa Seed Yields 
9 
SUMMARY OF COMPARATIVE TESTS 
The results of these comparative tests, together with the indi- 
ddual plant selections, might be summarized in the following 
{tatements : 
1. The northern strains of alfalfa have proven to be the most 
iesirable for forage production. They are poorest in seed yields. 
The southern strains were best in seed production. The southern 
strains winter killed so badly as to be impractical. 
2. The Baltic and Grimm strains of alfalfa have proven to be 
most desirable for Colorado conditions. In hay production, they 
^liave been about equal in all of our tests. The Grimm alfalfa is 
'thought to be a little more hardy and is somewhat heavier stooling. 
It is thus finer stemmed. The Baltic has proven to be less susceptible 
'to the bacterial stem blight than other strains of alfalfa. The Baltic 
has been somewhat better in seed yield than the Grimm. These two 
j strains resemble each other so closely that there is little choice be- 
tween them. 
' 3. The selection of plants for high seed yield has resulted in lo- 
i eating some phenomenally high yielding plants. Selection has pro- 
'duced some specially large stooling crowns. But the high seed yields 
mnd large crowns did not occur upon the same plants or strains. 
' 4. The selection of desirable forage types has improved uni- 
formity in some strains. This improvement has been sufficient to 
^'produce a better quality of hay, while at the same time increasing 
A view of the alfalfa nursery, showing the variation in types of plants from 
different seed sources. 
