518 



MEDICAGO SP. (Fabaceae.) 32410. Seeds of an alfalfa from 

 near Sarepta, Saratov government, Russia. "An alfalfa of 

 robust, almost erect growth, fit for dry situations. Is either 

 a form of M. falcata or of M. coerulea which has been collect- 

 ed near Sarepta." (Meyer's introduction.) For distribution 

 later . 



MEDICAGO FALCATA. (Fabaceae.) 32389, 32409, 32411-412. 

 Seeds of alfalfas from western Siberia, from near Sarepta, 

 Saratov government, and from Krassny Koot, Samara government, 

 Russia. "The 'sholteek', as this wild alfalfa is generally 

 called in western Siberia, occurs over the greater part of 

 Eurasia, being found In the Himalayas as low as the 30th de- 

 gree of latitude and near Yakutsk and in Norway between the 

 60th and 70th parallels. There is a very great amount of va- 

 riation to be observed in the wild plant; some forms grow up 

 to be 5 to 6 feet tall and fairly erect, while others reach a 

 height of a few inches only and are often of prostrate habit 

 entirely. The more prostrate forms lend themselves excellent- 

 ly to naturalization purposes on dry pasture grounds, while 

 the more erect varieties may be cultivated for forage purposes 

 in sections of the United States were the ordinary alfalfa is 

 winterkilled. The present habits of the 'sholteek' indicate 

 that possibly a great amount of selection and breeding may 

 have to be done before ideal types will have been evolved, but 

 the many excellent qualities this plant possesses, viz., the 

 eagerness with v/hich all sorts of domestic animals devour it, 

 the apparently great nutritive value, especially for milch- 

 cows, its remarkable resistance to drought, to close grazing, 

 and to adverse conditions in general, all seem to make it well 

 worth while to spend some extra efforts on improvement. The 

 roots of this 'sholteek 1 also possess the capacity of produc- 

 ing new plants whenever cut off or when exposed to the air, 

 through the soil being washed away. This characteristic is of 

 great value indeed in pasture grounds, where the crowns are 

 easily damaged by the close grazing and by the hoofs of the 

 animals tramping over them. The soil best suited to this 

 Medicago seems to be a blackish well-drained earth, but one 

 also finds it growing luxuriantly in pebbly banks, and in dry 

 cliffs, composed of sandy loam." (Meyer's introductions.) 

 For distribution later. 



MEDICAGO SATIVA VARIA. (Fabaceae.) 32408. Seed of an 

 alfalfa from Krassny Koot, Samara government, Russia. "A very 

 strong-growing hybrid alfalfa, having heavy erect stems, which 

 are well supplied with foliage. Obtained from Mr. W. S. 

 Bogdan, at Krassny Koot, who is making extensive selection and 

 hybridization experiments with Medicago falcata and who has 



