2 TIMELY HINT 132 



this variety than is the case with common alfalfa, excepting during sum- 

 mer months when the difference is practically negligible. In the fall 

 when cool weather begins, this difference in growth is again shown, 

 and as winter months approach, the growth of the common alfalfa is 

 almost entirely checked, while that of the hairy Peruvian is relatively 

 more active throughout the winter. Its growth during winter is, of 

 course, not as rapid as in the late spring and early fall. Occasionally, 

 in December and January when the temperature falls below 49 degrees 

 Fahrenheit, its growth is temporarily checked, but in no case have the 

 winters of Southern Arizona been cold enough since its introduction 

 to stop permanently its winter growth or kill the plants. It is upright 

 in habit and few stems are left after each cutting. Stockmen have 

 pastured this variety to a very limited extent through the winter, but 

 usually good results are not secured in this way as the plant is some- 

 what handicapped in its early spring growth, being considerably weak- 

 ened by the continual winter grazing. It never makes as rapid growth 

 in the spring after it has been winter-grazed as where it has been 

 permitted to grow, so that the- total annual yield of hay secured where 

 grazing is practiced is considerably less than where no grazing is 

 allowed. However, where green pasturage is an important item, rather 

 than total yield, this variety will perhaps serve the purpose better than 

 any other. As a result of its growth during the cooler parts of the 

 year, hairy Peruvian alfalfa has uniformly produced greater yields than 

 any other variety that has been grown in comparison with it. At least 

 one more cutting, and, in some cases, two more cuttings have been 

 secured than from ordinary alfalfa growing adjacent and under similar 

 conditions. Its total annual yield when grown in comparison with 

 seven other varieties of alfalfa, including Italian, Baltic, two types of 

 Algerian, Turkestan, Siberian and French, has been uniformly greater 

 than either. 



YIELDS OBTAINED IN 1916 OF HAIRY PERUVIAN ALFALFA IN COMPARISON 

 WITH SEVEN OTHER VARIETIES ARE AS FOLLOWS I 



Pounds per acre 



Average total yield of hairy Peruvian on 4 plots 15,676 



Average total yield of the 7 other varieties 14,371 



Average yield of hairy Peruvian on 4 plots, cutting Dec. 8 2,217 



Average yield of the 7 other varieties, cutting Dec. 8 1,701 



/vverage yield of hairy Peruvian on 4 plots, cutting March 23 5,500 



Average yield of the 7 other varieties, cutting March 23 4,738 



This table shows that in spite of the fact that all these plots were 

 cut at the same time throughout the year the yield of the hairy Peruvian 

 is greater than that of the other varieties. During the previous year the 

 hairy Peruvian was promptly cut when about one-third of the plants 

 were in bloom and one more cutting for the year was obtained from the 

 hairy Peruvian than from the other varieties. It was thus shown that 

 to obtain the highest yields of which this variety is capable it must be 

 promptly cut at the proper time, which is in the early blooming stage. 

 This is necessary not only to obtain the highest yields, but also if per- 

 mitted to grow too long the stems have a tendency to become woody 

 and therefore produce an inferior quality of hay. 



