334 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 36 



rye grass, perennial rye grass, cocksfoot, timothy, meadow fescue, red clover, 

 and white clover. The third year after .seeding, the seasons of the second and 

 third year having been dry, the Italian rye grass had entirely disappeared, the 

 perennial rye grass had greatly decreased in importance, and the cocksfoot had 

 increased. It was shown that in general an increase in cocksfoot resiilted in a 

 decrease of bare land. Timothy and meadow fescue, believed to require heavier 

 land and more moisture than was available during this experiment, were not 

 successful. 



Composition of several of the forage grasses of German East Africa, 

 M. Reich, F. Honcamp, and H, Zimmekmann {Lanclw. Vers. Stat., 87 (1915), 

 No. 4-5, pp. 351-363). — The samples of grasses analyzed, selected in the region 

 between the Pare Mountains and the Pangani River, included the following 

 species. Eragrostis superha, E. minor (?) Pappophorum scat)rum, Sporobolus 

 spicatus, S. robustus, S. rehmanii, Aristida adscensionis, Cynodon plecto 

 stachyum, Chloris virgata, C. myriostachya, C. geryana, Dactyloctenium (egypti- 

 acum, Leptocarydium, alopecuroides, Digitnria liorizontalis, and Pcnnisetuin 

 ciliare. Each grass is briefly described and the chemical composition, including 

 the organic and inorganic constituents of the sample representing it, is re- 

 ported. 



Medicago falcata, a yellow-flowered alfalfa, R. A. Oakley and S. Garver 

 (U. S. Dept. Agr. But. 428 (1911), pp. 70, pis. 4, figs. 23).— This bulletin deals 

 with the history, literature, and certain experimental work relating to M. 

 falcata, a yellow-flowered alfalfa, and is an effort to correct extreme and er- 

 roneous opinions regarding this plant, setting forth reliable data for the aid 

 of plant breeders and others interested in the species. 



The first recorded introduction of M. falcata into the United States was by 

 this Department in 1897, followed by importations in 1906 for the purpose of 

 utilizing the species as a cultivated forage crop and by many subsequent in- 

 troductions, mostly from Russia and Siberia. The species is thought to be in- 

 digenous over a large portion of Europe and the western two-thirds of Asia. 

 It occurs throughout a wide range of soil and climatic conditions and at de- 

 pressions and elevations ranging from below sea level to 13,000 feet above, 

 thus possessing a much wider adaptation than M. sativa. 



The botanical history of the species has been traced back to the early days 

 of modern botany and is dealt with in some detail. Recent workers differ with 

 regard to the taxonomic relationship of M. falcata to M. sativa, some regarding 

 it as a true species, while others regard it as a variety or subspecies of the 

 latter. That their relationship is quite close, however, is shown by the readiness 

 with which they hybridize and the fertility of the hybrids. 



A classification of the species has been attempted, based largely on the habit 

 of growth. Owing to the extreme variability encountered, many forms are 

 difficult to classify, possessing combinations of characters which make it diffi- 

 cult to determine whether they are of pure or hybrid origin. Four groups have 

 been established, ranging in habit from prostrate to almost erect. Two groups 

 are referred to as pasture groups, not being sufficiently erect to be harvested 

 for hay, and the other two as hay groups. 



This species has never been extensively cultivated in Europe or Asia, al- 

 though utilized to some extent as a wild forage plant. It is now being culti- 

 vated to some extent in India and possibly to a still more limited degree in 

 southeastern Russia and Chinese Turkestan. 



The erect forms of M. falcata resemble those of M. sativa in their mass effect, 

 but usually produce a heavier yield in comparison with their bulk, due to the 

 large number of stems. The best strains of M. falcata frequently outyield the 

 best strains of M, sativa for the first cutting of the season, but M. falcata is 



