ALFALFA— A PROM I SI XG FORAGE CROP FOR 

 HAW AIL 



By William H. AIeIxN^ecke, Class of 1913. 

 (Continued.) 



1. Chiliaji or couunon or California alfalfa. 



The common alfalfa is distributed practically throughout North 

 and South America and Hawaii, and is especially adapted to those 

 sections of Southern California and the Western States, and also 

 Hawaii, where the climate is mild and where there is a fair 

 amount of rainfall or irrigation water. While it does fairly well 

 in dry regions, it is best suited to those places where the water 

 table is fairly high, and will respond wonderfully to proper irri- 

 gation. It can withstand fairly severe winters, but it is not con- 

 sidered the best variety for the northern conditions. 



The many strains of this variety are commonly known by the 

 name of the state or region from which the seed is obtained, e. g., 

 Utah, California, Kansas, etc. 



2. Arabian alfalfa ( M. sativa arabianica). 



As the name indicates, this variety was discovered in Arabia 

 and was imported directly into the United States in 1902, and the 

 first seed planted in Hawaii was obtained directly from Wash- 

 ington, D. C. 



This variety is readily recognized by its thick succulent stems 

 and large dark green hairy leaves. It is a very rapid grower 

 and recovers quickly after cutting, the crop maturing within three 

 weeks and in general one to two weeks earlier than the common 

 variety. It cannot withstand frost or drought and is generally 

 more susceptible to plant diseases than the other varieties, but 

 will do very well in humid regions or where irrigation water is 

 abundant. 



3. Turkestan alfalfa. 



Turkestan alfalfa was imported into the United States in 1898 

 and brought to Hawaii within the last decade. This variety is 

 considered more resistant to cold and drought than the Chilian 

 and has proven in South Dakota^ to be more drought and cold 

 resistant than Grim's alfalfa, but in Xortli Dakota^, with the tem- 

 perature at 35° F. (1906-7), fifteen percent of the Turkestan 

 plants were winter killed against five percent of those of the Grim 



1 U. S. D. A., B. p. I. BuL 19G. 



2 U. S. D. A., p. P. I. BuL 185. 



