Alfalfa 
9 
these types may be better understood with younger plants. Plate No. 5 
shows two very representative plants of these two types, only four 
months’ growth from seed, both grown under the same field condi¬ 
tions. The non-hardy type is shown on the left. It has a compacted 
upright growing crown, with comparatively few buds or shoots below 
the surface of the soil. The buds are thus exposed to freezing, thaw¬ 
ing and drying out which eventually weakens and' kills alfalfa in the 
arid regions. 
The hardy type is shown on the right. This is characterized by 
a more spreading crown, with numerous buds and shoots springing 
from the crown below the surface of the soil. These underground 
Plate No. 6.—A fine specimen of the hardy type, Grimm’s alfalfa. Soil 
removed three inches in depth to expose all the underground shoots. 
