FORAGE PROBLEM 119 



these wild Siberian alfalfas, we would increase their pres- 

 ent feeding capacity for stock from four to eight times. 



Seeds and plants for these hardy varieties are obtain- 

 able in a limited way, and if they prove as vigorous here 

 as they are in their native home under trying conditions, 

 they will soon become a leading feature of our flora, and 

 add immensely to our agricultural wealth. The trans- 

 planting of alfalfa plants, although new to us, is some- 

 thing that has been practiced for centuries in parts of 

 India and South America. 



The modern idea of a hardy alfalfa is one that will take 

 its place as a wild plant and hold its own with buffalo 

 grass and other wild grasses; one that will cover our 

 steep bluffs and hillsides, now barren; one that will 

 flourish in our gumbo soils in western localities ; one that 

 will make our rough land and "sheep quarters" immensely 

 more valuable than at present. 



Where the common blue-flowered alfalfa does not 

 suffer from the winter at any time, it is wise to "let well 

 enough alone." But north of this line is a vast region, 

 stretching clear to the Arctic circle, where these Siberian 

 alfalfas will reign supreme in the near future, and they 

 may find a congenial home in the high mountain regions 

 in the Rockies far to the south. 



Some people are inclined to shut their eyes and ears 

 to the fact that the common alfalfa is sometimes winter- 

 killed, and blame the farmer for all the failures ; such 

 people like to tell only about its successes and to dis- 

 regard the failures. This is not the best way. The other 

 extreme would be to wait until the seed of perfectly hardy 

 plants is obtained in commercial quantities. 



Either view is extreme and unwise. We would plant 

 the best seed obtainable, taking care that it is as free as 

 possible from weed seed. Turkestan alfalfa, which was 

 brought over for the first time in 1898, has made good 

 over a wide area. 



