54 



it spread quickly ihroui^iiout the west and has recently reached 

 the eastern states aiid is ninv cultivated there with success and 

 profit. 



In 1895 alfalfa was first hroui^ht tc* Hawaii from California 

 hv the Hon. D. P. R. Isenberg- and planted with success at Waia- 

 lae, Oahu. 



At present, the plant has spread not only to all parts of America 

 and the Mediterranean region, but to almost every country set- 

 tled by the white race and where the conditions for its growth are 

 favorable, and, within a comparatively few years, will probably 

 become second only (if not first) to corn as a cultivated forage 

 crop of the United States. 



As already indicated, the common synonym of alfalfa is lucerne, 

 but it should not be forgotten that there are many others,-""' chief 

 of which are Chilean clover, French lucerne, and Purple Medick. 



BOTANICAL RELATIONSHIPS. 



Alfalfa, being characterized by leaves of three leaflets, belongs 

 to the tribe Trifolieae or clovers of the family Leguminosae or 

 pod bearers. 



According to Carl S. Scofield,'' "the i)revalent botanical name 

 ]\Iedicago sativa cannot properly be used for this plant." the cor- 

 rect name being Medica sativa (L) Mill. However, since this 

 was the only reference to any generic name other than Medicago, 

 we shall merely pass over the matter at least for the present and 

 cling to the best known name Medicago sativa (L). 



The following are the most important species of the genus 

 >\redicago : 



I. ]\I. sativa (L) or common alfalfa llrs. piu-])k'. approaching 

 violet, seedpod with 3 spirals (sometimes 2 or 1), stems erect, 

 inclined to be 4 angled, h'ound in S. Asia, N. Africa and S. 

 Europe. Northern limit. Kopal. S. W. Siberia. Now found in 

 all parts of the world wherever the conditions are favorable. 



II. AI. falcata (L) or yellow alfalfa firs, uniformally yellow 

 ])ods sickle shaped stems spreading to erect. Closely related to 

 i\I. sativa. Considered resistant to alkali, endures .severe 

 droughts and cold-good ]iastm-e. I-'ound growing 68^ N. record 

 min. temp. 67.8° C. 13istril)Ution wide over luirojie and Asia. 

 Western. ^ of Siberia. Seed l)rought to V . S. in 1 '->()(). 



IH. AT. media or sand lucerne. Regardetl as a natural hybrid 

 of falcata and sativa firs, very pale yellow to green to violet. 

 iCxami>le — "grim alfalfa." J^weden. Sibci-ia, l\ussia, Hmigary. 

 .\ati\'e in \'olga region of I'',. Russia. 



I\'. M. glutinosa (I'deb) or Caucasian alfalfa. CUxsely re- 

 lated to M. falcata 1 of 21 species native to Caucasia. Native 



6 "Book of Alfnlfn" — Col. urn. 

 " U. S. I). Apric. li. r. L, Itiil 



