ALFALFA 351 



mi nation of 66 to 92 per cent, and six years later the same 

 samples, then twelve years old, still germinated 63 to 92.5 

 per cent. One sample germinated 72 per cent when ten 

 years old and 63 per cent six years later. 



Experiments in Austria showed a gradual decrease in 

 germination from 94 per cent the first year to 54 per cent 

 the eleventh year. Shriveled seed is inferior to plump 

 seed, both in percentage of viability and in keeping qual- 

 ities. It is probable, also, that the resultant plants are 

 less vigorous. 



416. Alfalfa improvement. The wide diversity which 

 exists both in wild and cultivated alfalfas has in recent 

 years stimulated much interest in breeding to secure 

 varieties especially adapted to certain purposes and to 

 special localities. Among the improvements sought by 

 various investigators along this line, the following may be 

 enumerated : 



1. A higher degree of leanness combined with erect 

 stems, so as to produce more and better hay ; 



2. Better seed production, especially if combined with 

 good hay quality; 



3. Greater drought resistance ; 



4. Greater cold resistance ; 



5. Varieties that possess ability to produce seed under 

 humid conditions, so that adapted strains may gradually 

 be developed ; 



6. Better pasture varieties, especially such as have root- 

 stocks so as to withstand pasturing without injury; 



7. Disease resistance. 



The characters enumerated are all possessed in vary- 

 ing degrees by different varieties. Especially promising 

 for the breeder are hybrids between sickle alfalfa and true 

 alfalfa, of both of which numerous forms exist. The 



