318 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



The amount of accurate data concerning the relative 

 value in America of alfalfa seed from various sources is 

 not large, but is supplemented by the experience of prac- 

 tical farmers. In the Eastern States French (Provence) 

 seed has as a rule proven quite as satisfactory as western 

 American seed, while Turkestan seed has given decidedly 

 inferior results. In the West, excepting where the winters 

 are very severe, Provence seed has also proven very satis- 

 factory. California-grown seed is not held in high repute, 

 even in that state, but there seems insufficient evidence 

 to warrant this attitude. In general southern-grown seed 

 is not favored in more northern regions, and the evidence 

 is fairly conclusive that such strains are inferior in cold 

 resistance. 



380. Comparison of regional strains. In recent years 

 many experiment stations have tested the relative yield- 

 ing capacities of alfalfa seed from different sources. This 

 has been done more with the idea of determining whether 

 any of the regional strains possess really different qual- 

 ities as many of them come from countries where no con- 

 siderable quantity of commercial seed is produced. 



Practically all the imported commercial seed used in 

 America is from Turkestan, so. that the only source of 

 seed problem which is at present of much concern, is the 

 relative yielding capacity of Turkestan as compared with 

 that from various American states. 



The data thus far secured at most of the experiment 

 stations do not admit of very clear deductions being 

 drawn. Where the tests have been conducted longest 

 the actual differences in yield are not very pronounced. 

 The results shown in the following table were secured by 

 planting the same bulked seed of the different strains re- 

 ported upon : 



