LUTHER BURBANK 



predictions have been more than justified, but 

 alfalfa has failed to make its way in the Eastern 

 and Northern States as rapidly as had been 

 expected. 



The probable reason for this is that our most 

 common alfalfa was brought from Peru or Bolivia. 

 Had the plant come from Patagonia or Southern 

 Chile instead, or from Russia, its original home, 

 being therefore represented by hardier varieties, 

 it would probably have spread all over the Eastern 

 States and have added vastly to the value of the 

 forage crop everywhere. 



But now hardier types of alfalfa are making 

 their way to the North, and even into Canada, and 

 possibly selective breeding may develop races 

 more resistant to frost than any that have hitherto 

 been imported. 



A form known as Turkestan alfalfa has lately 

 been introduced that is recommended for its hardi- 

 ness. When grown side by side with the ordinary 

 alfalfa on my place, it is difficult to distinguish the 

 two plants. But the Turkestan variety may of 

 course have qualities of hardiness that are not 

 revealed in its appearance. There are other strains 

 being grown that are said to be even more hardy. 



The alfalfa has so recently been introduced that 

 it has not been extensively experimented upon. 

 There is no plant, however, which can be taken up 



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