314 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



grown. Dryland alfalfa is ordinary alfalfa grown one or 

 more generations under semi-arid conditions without 

 irrigation. The seed is generally considered superior for 

 dryland farming. 



Turkestan alfalfa has been imported into the United 

 States since 1898. The seed can usually be distinguished 

 by the weed seeds present, especially Eruca saliva and 

 Centaur ea picris. The plants are indistinguishable from 

 ordinary alfalfa. The consensus of American opinion is 

 that this variety is inferior in the humid eastern United 

 States, but in the semi-arid regions has some superiority 

 in drought and cold endurance. Under American condi- 

 tions, Turkestan alfalfa produces but very small crops of 

 seed. On this account, it is not increasing in importance 

 notwithstanding the fact that most of imported alfalfa 

 seed is from Turkestan. 



Arabian alfalfa comes from the lower valley of the 

 Euphrates. It is characterized by its hairiness, large 

 leaflets, very rapid growth and relatively short life. The 

 seeds, too, are decidedly larger than any other strain. 

 It begins to grow and continues growth at a lower tempera- 

 ture than common alfalfa, which, together with its remark- 

 ably rapid growth, enables it to produce more cuttings 

 in a season than any other variety. In the Imperial Valley 

 of California, it has produced twelve cuttings in a season 

 and in the Sacramento Valley of the same state, eight 

 cuttings. Unfortunately it is short-lived, the stand be- 

 coming thin by the third year and but few plants surviv- 

 ing the fourth year. 



Peruvian alfalfa. This variety (Medicago saliva var. 

 polia Brand) comes from the highlands of Peru. It is 

 distinguished by the marked pubescence of its whole 

 herbage, which gives it a somewhat bluish appearance; 



