Alfalfa Seed Yields 
21 
i A view of the series of cement pots used to test the effect of different amounts of water 
applied on seed yields. This view was taken the second year of the tests. 
limits the bloom to the tips of the plants, while a thin stand exposes 
a larger proportion of the plant to light and air, thus permitting a 
! greater amount of bloom on the scattered branches. The greater 
I amount of bloom on the thin stand enables a heavier seed yield to 
I be produced if other conditions are right. 
I Space effect in its influence on alfalfa seed production has been 
under investigation in a series of experiments. The alfalfa was 
j planted in rows spaced at different distances. The plants in the 
row were thinned out to different row spacings. The space alloted 
to each plant ranged from 18 to 20 square inches to as many square 
feet. The results from these experiments indicated that a thin 
^ stand is necessary. But it was also evident that lack of space was 
> not the general cause of failure of alfalfa to produce seed. Where 
plants were given practically unlimited space, there were still 
approximately the same percentage of plants which failed to produce 
^ seed. It has been observed that plants which grow in large, open 
spaces will sometimes produce seed prolifically, especially on the 
[ stems which lie close to the ground. Often the other branches of 
. the plants are not especially well set with seed. There is some 
doubt whether space is primarily the cause of this extra good seed 
setting near the ground. (This observation will be referred to 
