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often avevcaging- 10 to 15 feet, while extraordinary depths of 50 to 60 

 feet have been recorded. The feeding value of alfalfa is very high, 

 provided the crop is cut in due season. When cut in time and prop- 

 erh" cured, alfalfa hay is an exceedingly valuable item in the farm 

 economy. Wherever the soil and climate are adapted to it, a lield of 

 alfalfa should be on everv man's farm. 



In 1898 and 1899 three hundred and twenty-three packages of Turk- 

 estan alfalfa, of 10 pounds each were distributed l)y this Division 

 throuo-h the Section of Seed and Plant Introduction.^ This distribu- 

 tion included experimenters in 35 different States. Up to the present 

 time 148 reports have been received, and already the general opinion 

 seems to be that it is a better drought-resister than the French and 

 Chilian alfalfas. Many, however, are inclined to believe that it is no 

 better than the common alfalfa growing in their particular section. 

 Others again failed to get a stand. In many instances this has been 

 caused by experimenters not keeping the weeds down the first year. 

 Care uuist be given until the 3'oung plants get a good hold on the 

 ground. 



It is not advisable to try to grow a crop of seed the first year, espe- 

 cially in sections of the country that suffer from severe drought and 

 where irrigation can not be carried on. The energies of the plant are 

 all required to produce a strong and deep root system. It will be 

 found that if the first year's growth is cut down just previous to the 

 long, dry, smnmer months, that the roots will grow much deeper down 

 into the soil, where, during the period of drought, they will be more 

 likely to find sufficient moisture. 



In the grass garden of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, 

 D. C, the Turkestan alfalfa grew two feet high and very rank and 

 thrifty. Three crops were produced which were fully equal to the 

 native varieties from different States growing alongside of it. The 

 height, amount of growth, and quality of the hay of the Turkestan 

 alfalfa seem to be about the same as the French alfalfa. 



Experiments have not been carried on for a sufficient number of 

 years to enable us to state its future in this country. The present 

 indications are that it will be of considerable value to the farmers in 

 the semiarid regions of the West where irrigation can not be carried on. 



The following are a few of the reports that have been received 

 by this Division. The majority of experimenters do not care to come 

 to any conclusion until they have tested it for a longer period. 



^A total of 1,111 packages of Turkestan alfalfa have been distributed by the 

 Department and 438 reports have been received from the experimenters. The 

 detailed results from the entire distribution will soon be published separately. 



