Alfalfa Seed Yields 
19 
The most common method of irrigating alfalfa by flooding from field laterals This 
method is not well adapted for seed production. On soils suitable for this method of 
irrigation, it is well adapted for hay production. 
Other factors influencing seed setting besides any definite moisture 
supply. 
The most practical conclusions to draw from the investigation on 
the effect of different supplies of moisture might be summed up in the 
statement, ‘‘alfalfa intended for seed production should be supplied 
with the minimum amount of moisture that will insure a medium 
growth of forage and provide an adequate supply of water to insure 
the maturity of the seed.” To accomplish this, the grower must 
become familiar with his farm soil conditions. He must learn how 
to handle his soils so as to control the moisture. 
CULTURAL CARE AND METHODS TO INSURE 
SEED PRODUCTION 
Many successful alfalfa seed crops have been attributed to the 
plan of pasturing the alfalfa with livestock late in the spring. The 
argument advanced was that the first growth which usually starts 
m the spring is exhausted by being pastured off. It is thot that the 
groAvth that follows when the grazing livestock is removed, about the 
middle of May, will be somewhat dwarfed and thus more inclined to 
set seed. Many successful crops^of alfalfa seed would seem to 
warrant this conclusion. However, the investigations on this point 
are not conclusive. Experiments have been carried on several years 
where the first growth of alfalfa have been clipped off in the spring. 
Various plans of grazing have been, tried out in comparison. The 
