386 ALFALFA 



There are many varieties of alfalfa besides the common culti- 

 vated form, and some of these are semi-tropical in character and not 

 hardy north of the southern part of Arizona or Texas. One species 

 of alfalfa, known as Siberian or sickle alfalfa, is found growing wild 

 as far north as 60 latitude in Siberia. The relative hardiness of the 

 different types is better understood by considering the alfalfas when 

 classified into natural groups. 



Classification of Alfalfa. The following grouping of the com- 

 mon cultivated varieties is arranged according to degree of hardiness : 



Semitropical forms : Peruvian, Arabian. 



Blue-flowered alfalfa : Common, Turkestan. 



Variegated flowers : Sand Lucern, Grimm alfalfa, Ontario varie- 

 gated, hardy Blackhill types. 



Yellow flowers : Siberian or sickle. 



The semitropical forms are characterized by very large size and 

 rapid growth. As many as ten or twelve cuttings of these can be 

 made in southern California. They also have a hairy covering, and 

 many of their flowers are a plum-colored blue. 



The blue- flowered alfalfas, so-called, are the common cultivated 

 types. The flowers vary from blue to purple. The range northward 

 of the common alfalfas has already been described as South Dakota 

 and central New York. In appearance it is impossible to distin- 

 guish common alfalfa from Turkestan. However, records show 

 that in a general way the Turkestan is somewhat less productive, 

 having a tendency to be a little more dwarfish in habit, and usually 

 does not recover so quickly after cutting. It is claimed to be a little 

 more drought-resistant and cold-resistant, and it is probably true 

 that at least some strains of Turkestan are. However, Turkestan 

 seed is produced under a wide range of conditions in western Asia, 

 and it is not safe to assume that any particular lot of commercial seed 

 would be satisfactory. The culture of Turkestan should not be en- 

 couraged, now that we have known strains of hardy alfalfa in North 

 America. 



The variegated alfalfas are thought probably to have originated 

 from hybrids between the yellow-flowered alfalfa and common blue- 

 flowered alfalfa. A certain per cent of the flowers are quite variable 

 in color, ranging from white through yellow, greenish, to light blue 



