12 
Colorado Experiment Station 
A close-up view of the alfalfa nursery experiment upon the effect of space on seed production. 
methods. These growers are producing alfalfa seed by following 
the methods that have been worked ont empirically for their par- 
ticular farm conditions. But invariably they admit that the same 
plan does not always succeed. Neither does the same plan succeed 
under different soil conditions. The different ideas of the most suc- 
cessful alfalfa seed growers in regard to supplying irrigation have 
very few points in cpmmon. Hence, any specific rule formulated for 
regulating the water supply is usually subject to numerous qualify- 
ing conditions. 
The most conclusive results from field observations might be sum- 
marized in the folloAving statements : 
' 1. The moisture condition in the soil which seems to produce the 
best alfalfa seed yields appears to be a someAvhat limited water 
supply. The supply must be limited so that there will be a somewhat 
retarded growth of forage. Yet there must be sufficient moisture for 
the plant to function properly during the blooming period and Avhile 
the seeds are forming and maturing. 
2. Excessive moisture in the soil seems to stimulate a heavy 
growth of forage at the expense of seed production. A heavy rain 
or an over soaking irrigation at about the blooming period is usually 
fatal to a high seed yield. The increased moisture induces a neAv 
growth of stems and seems to exert an abortive influence on the 
flowers in bloom. 
