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. 
