JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1909, 67 



25175 and 25176— Continued. 



Seeds of the following: 



25175. Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa, 



Alt-Deutsrhi Frdnkische lucern. "(P. L. H. No. 3420.) This alfalfa usually 

 has a very large percentage of hard seed, in some samples as high as 63 per cent 

 failing to germinate in the five-day germination test. On this point Wissinger 

 says: 'We could bring the seed to greater germinating power by scratching, 

 were it not for the fact that the hardness of shell is thought here to be a desirable 

 quality under certain conditions. Indeed, it is believed that the longevity 

 of a stand of Franconian lucern is due to its hard-shelled seeds, some of which 

 often lie dormant for years, thereby constantly rejuvenating the stand with a 

 fresh supply of young plants. The appearance of this seed, as furnished, is not 

 first class. We would not, however, wish to do anything that would impair 

 its originalit y . ' 



"The present sample was grown in Iphofen, Franconia." (Brand.) 



25176. Medicago sativa varia (Mart.) Urb. Sand lucern. 



Bohemian. "(P. L. H. No. 3421.) This seed was grown on the right bank 

 of the Elbe in Bohemia." (Brand.) 



25177. Trifolium suaveolens Willd. Shaftal. 



From Amritsar, Punjab, India. Secured from Mr. Philip Parker, experimental 

 officer in the Indian Irrigation Secretariat, through Mr. Charles J. Brand. Re- 

 ceived April 1, 1909. 



''Shaftal, which is an annual plant, is the chief fodder crop in the valleys of the 

 northwest frontier of India. It is always grown with irrigation and gives exceed- 

 ingly good yields. 



"Experiments begun in 1907 with the seed previously presented by Mr. Parker 

 (S. P. I. Nos. 19506 and 19507) have proceeded far enough to show considerable prom- 

 ise for this clover, especially in our hot irrigated valleys." (Brand.) 



25178 and 25180. Medicago spp. 



From Vienna, Austria. Secured from Gebrtider Boschan, successors to Wie- 

 schnitzky & Clauser, through Mr. Charles J. Brand. Received March 25, 

 1909. 



The following seeds : 



25178. Medicago sativa varia (Mart.) Urb. Sand lucern. 

 Bohmische. (P. L. H. No. 3428.) 



25179. Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa. 

 Ungarische. (P. L. H. No. 3429.) 



25180. Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa. 

 Mahrische. (P. L. H. No. 3430.) 



25181 to 25185. Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa. 



From Bonn-Poppelsdorf, Germany. Presented by Prof. Dr. Th. Remy, di- 

 rector, Institut fur Bodenlehre und Pflanzenbau der Koniglichen landwirt- 

 schaftlichen Akademie, Bonn am Rhein, through Mr. Charles J. Brand. Re- 

 ceived March 25, 1909. 



The following seeds: 



25181. Pfalzer. (P. L. H. No. 3422.) Original seed from Frankenthal, 

 Rhein-Pfalz, Germany. 



162 



