Hardy Common Alfalfa 
Adaptability of Different Origins 
When I speak of alfalfa origins, I mean where the seed 
was grown. There has been a lot of discussion about seed 
from one section being hardier than that from an other. 
There is a difference but not as much so as some have 
thought and may even think now. A number of experi¬ 
ment stations have experimented with this. Take Wis¬ 
consin for example. They have found there that Common 
Alfalfa from Kansas does about as well as Common from 
Montana. They advise farmers who need an extra hardy 
kind to use Grimm or Cossack. 
On the other hand when you go too far south like down 
into Oklahoma, Texas, California and Arizona you then 
run into a decidedly less hardy strain. They raise nice 
looking seed down there but I don’t recommend it. 
I secure my seed from sections that I know have given 
my customers good results. These basic sections are group¬ 
ed below. Some of them sell at higher prices than others 
because of popular belief of superiority. That makes seed 
dealers bid up and that makes them more costly. I carry 
them all because I want to give my customers what they 
desire. 
This seed comprises stocks from Kansas, 
part of Nebraska and Colorado and perhaps 
an occasional lot from Utah. I dare say that 
few farmers live under conditions that are 
more trying or damaging. You may live 
where temperatures are lower but low tem¬ 
peratures do not kill so much alfalfa. It is 
the spring weather that does the most dam¬ 
age and this alfalfa should stand it as well 
as any common. That explains why Com¬ 
mon alfalfa from one section does about as 
well as another. If you think that you need 
a super hardy strain, I would advise you to 
buy Grimm. This central grown seed might 
be a shade below the others in hardiness but 
I doubt whether you could tell the difference. 
DRY-LAND 
The Black Hills are in the states of Ne¬ 
braska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Alfalfa 
seed of this origin has made quite a repu¬ 
tation for having superior qualities. Big 
yields and extra winter hardiness are quite 
generally attributed to stock from this sec¬ 
tion and the seed nearly always commands 
a premium in price. There can be no ques¬ 
tion as to its wide adaptability. There cer¬ 
tainly is no common that could be in any 
way superior. Its higher price is therefore 
justified because of the large popular demand. 
My Black Hills alfalfa has the origin as 
listed above and when you consider the qual¬ 
ity I have for you, you will find my prices 
most reasonable. Sometimes the seed pro¬ 
duction is seriously curtailed by weather con¬ 
ditions so it is a wise idea to get your orders 
in for this seed as early as possible. I aim 
to have plenty of it but it is a fast seller. 
IDAHO COMMON 
Idaho of all single states has a very 
wide spread reputation for the production 
of quality alfalfa seed. It is perhaps most 
famous for its Grimm as the Blackfoot 
stock all comes from here. The Common 
is however in almost equally heavy de¬ 
mand and many seed dealers will pay a 
premium for it. Frankly I do not con¬ 
sider it in any way superior, if as good, 
as my Black Hills. It is beautiful seed 
and may run a little nicer for looks. Some 
years when they have a big crop and the 
price is not too high this is a good buy. 
Montana 
Montana also produces very hardy 
strains of alfalfa. Drought often causes 
crop failures but when Montana seed is 
available I will have it for you. Ask my 
salesman about it. 
CENTRAL GROWN 
NORTHWESTERN 
Under this classification I group seed 
from states like Dakota, Nebraska, Colo¬ 
rado, Montana, Utah. These sections are 
subject to severe extremes of weather. 
These changes are often violent and very 
damaging to plant life. Alfalfa that sur¬ 
vives these conditions and produce seed 
really have to be able to take it. I often 
get in small lots from different states that 
I bulk into one large lot. That gives a 
blend of origins that my customers like 
and I can price it at very attractive fig¬ 
ures. My representative can show you 
samples of this and you can see for your¬ 
self what an excellent value you can se¬ 
cure in this seed. It will produce big crops 
of hay and should answer your needs well 
unless you have a lot of trouble with win¬ 
ter killing on your land. 
