AEABIAN ALFALFA. 29 



VALUE FOR PASTURAGE AND SOILING. 



Arabian alfalfa will not stand as much trampling without injury 

 as will the ordinary variety. This is because the crowns arc more 

 upright, higher set, and of a less woody texture. A firm low-spread- 

 ing crown enables a plant to stand considerable trampling without 

 injury and is desirable in a variety intended for pasture purposes. 1 

 Besides having a crown that will not stand trampling it has very 

 soft roots that are readily eaten by stock which graze very closely or 

 root into the soil, as do hogs. A good stand of Arabian alfalfa will 

 be destroyed in one season if pastured by hogs and severely injured if 

 pastured closely by any kind of stock. 



On account of its upright habit, its ability to make quick recovery 

 after cutting, and its ability to make growth in cool weather the 

 Arabian variety in these respects is desirable for soiling purposes or 

 cutting and feeding in the green state. However, on account of its 

 short life period it should be used only when the crop is to stand 

 for three years or less. 



INJURY BY GOPHERS. 



Gophers are a serious enemy of Arabian alfalfa. They are very fond 

 of the soft succulent roots and do much more damage to this variety 

 than to ordinary alfalfa. It has been found very difficult to maintain 

 individual plants of the Arabian variety in rows on this account, and 

 in plats sown broadcast considerable damage has been done. 



SEED PRODUCTION. 2 



There is a great difference in varieties of alfalfa with regard to their 

 seed-producing qualities. The Arabian variety produces less seed 

 than ordinary alfalfa, and from the experience with it at Chico and 

 other places in California it is quite evident that at best only about 

 100 pounds per acre can be produced. As the original home of Ara- 

 bian alfalfa is in a country of very intense heat, it might be expected 

 that hot weather would be conducive to seed setting in this variety, 

 but experience has shown that it is injurious, causing blasting of the 

 flowers. In the Imperial Valley of California, and at Mecca, Cal., 

 where the summer heat is quite intense, the seed crops of the Arabian 

 variety have been as light as at other places in that State. A better 

 setting of seed has been secured in moderate rather than more in- 

 tensive heat, so that somewhat early or late in the season the heat 



1 Oliver, George W. Some new alfalfa varieties for pastures, V . S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of 

 Plant Industry, Bulletin 258, 1913. 



2 For a complete discussion of the subject of alfalfa seed, see U. S. Department of Agriculture, Fanners' 

 Bulletin 495, entitled "Alfalfa seed production." 



[Cir. 119] 



