ALFALFA STUDIES 
PROGRESS REPORT 
By P. K. BLINN 
Alfalfa forms the basis of our farm values throughout the 
western states; its unique adaptation to the semi-arid conditions 
makes it an invaluable asset to our agriculture. Owing to its power 
to survive a drought, or exist on scanty moisture, its deep growing 
root system enables it to reach a great but a deep-lying supply of soil 
fertility, that is beyond the reach of common plant roots, but which 
will in turn, become available to any crop if the proper crop rotation 
with alfalfa is established. 
The power of alfalfa to restore worn out lands, and to build up 
soil that is deficient in humus and nitrogen, is apparent to the most 
casual observer, who will compare the crops grown on alfalfa sod, 
with those on ordinary soil, or even where barnyard manure has 
been heavily applied. Realizing these facts, it is evident that alfalfa 
must be grown more extensively in our crop rotations to maintain 
and restore the soil that is being depleted by the large crops of 
sugar beets and other products. 
Many acres of alfalfa hay land are sacrificed each year, for the 
more remunerative returns from beets, cantaloupes or potatoes 
grown on alfalfa sod, and as a result alfalfa hay is becoming scarce, 
and the price is advancing to a point that will tend to dishearten the 
stock feeder. Also the high prices realized for hay has not encour¬ 
aged saving the alfalfa crop for seed, consequently the price of good 
alfalfa seed is about equal to the cost when it was first introduced. 
In the estimation of some, the high price of land in the irrigated sec¬ 
tions precludes the use of alfalfa as a profitable crop; especially on 
the small tracts and even on the larger farms, the proper proportion 
of alfalfa to other crops is seldom maintained and evidently the 
real merit of alfalfa is overlooked. 
When expensive land is occupied with alfalfa for recuperation, 
which sooner or later will become necessary, it is apparent to all 
that it should be made to yield the highest returns possible, in hay, 
seed or fertility. To this end the alfalfa seed breeding work has 
been instituted. The idea was suggested in 1904, when investigat¬ 
ing the insect injuries and other causes for the poor yields of alfalfa 
seed in the lower Arkansas valley in Colorado. It was then noted 
that there was a great contrast in the seed yields of different plants 
under apparently the same conditions, and also, that the type and 
quantity of hay’from different individuals varied. Seed from some 
of the most promising plants were secured and sown the following 
