— 37 — 
cutting, 1.2 tons for the second cutting, and i ton for the 
thn d cutting.. This is estimated on a yield of 3.8 tons for 
the three cuttings, which is not far from the average crop. 
1 his correction changes the total amount of mineral mat - 
tei removed fiom 167.23^ 169.26 pounds. Actually weighed 
crops seem not to be of record in such numbers as to give 
them value as a basis. That four, five and more tons have 
been cut pei acre, is not doubted, but such vields are not the 
rule. The land of the Rocky Ford Station has yielded a trifle 
over five tons and so has land near Loveland, in this 
county, and doubtless at many other places, but these are 
large and not average yields. Estimated yields are sel¬ 
dom too low and measured tons are only approximately 
correct, but they serve a good purpose when nothing better 
is available. Adopting the judgment of sixteen farmers of 
Colorado, some of whom are known to the writer as practi¬ 
cal and conservative men, we make the average yield 3 7 
tons per acre. Mr. A. A. Mills, of the Utah Station, makes 
the yield from measured areas 4.24 tons per acre. These 
figures seem exceedingly conservative when compared with 
many current estimates, but they are fully high enough for 
the average crop and close approximations to its upper 
limit. 
ALFALFA SEEDS. 
The ordinary analysis of the seed is given in the table 
on page 31, and the ash analysis in the appendix. The fat 
or oil—ether extract—was determined by both my assist¬ 
ant, Mr. Ryan, and myself. Mr. Ryan obtained 14.41 per 
cent, and I 14.04 per cent. Mr. Ryan extracted his portions 
for many days; I extracted mine for eight hours. There 
seems to be.a volatile portion, which gave Mr. Ryan trouble 
in determining the moisture. 
1 
AMOUNTS OF SEED COMMENDED FOR SOWING PER ACRE. 
The practice followed by many intelligent farmers of 
selling the good seed and. sowing the screenings, led us to 
make the following experiments, even though they digress 
from the main purpose of this bulletin. 
The fresh seed has a light greenish yellow color which 
is sensitive to the light, eventually becoming reddish brown. 
The size of the seed varies ; it is described as larger than 
clover seed. A sample gathered by hand from plants grow¬ 
ing singly on a poorly irrigated piece of ground, had the 
following properties: bright greenish yellow color; more 
than twice as long as broad ; and as a rule not as thick as 
broad; thicker at.one end than at the other, giving the 
seed a slightly twisted appearance ; length a little more 
