MEDICAGO FALCATA, A YELLOW-FLOWERED ALFALFA. 



41 



The above data are verified by those obtained at Highmore, where 

 plants grown in hills 4ri by 44 inches were cut and the recovery noted. 

 A brief summary of the results is presented in Table III. 



Table III.- 



-Rate of recovery of Medicago falcata after cutting, at Highmore, 

 8. Dak., in 1913. 



S.P.I.No.i 



20717 

 20718 

 20721 

 20722 



Average meas- 

 urement o f 

 plants. 



Height. Spread 



Inches. 



21 



ISf 

 19 



Indies. 

 35|- 



45 ^ 

 39| 

 355 



Date har- 

 vested. 



June 27 

 June 23 

 June 1-1 

 June 17 



Aver- 

 age 

 heisht 

 on July 

 17. 



Inches. 

 ^ 



7i 



S.P.I. No.i 



20725 

 24452 

 28070 

 28071 



Average meas- 

 urement o f 

 plants. 



Height. Spread. 



Inches. 

 124 

 17i 



23:^ 



203 



Inches. 



36i 

 431 

 iU 

 44" 



Datehar- 

 vested. 



June 27 

 June 24 

 June 24 

 Jime 23 



Aver- 

 age 

 height 

 on July 

 17. 



Inches. 

 Of 



I Observations were made on eight plants of each number. 



As will be noted, there is some difference in the rate of recovery 

 of the various introductions, but this ordinarily is small and can 

 scarcely be considered as a fixed characteristic of any of the forms. 

 Observations made on plats where strains of Medicago falcata were 

 grown in broadcast stands indicate that the growth after cutting is 

 less than when grown in rows and hills. The specific data herein 

 recorded are supported by general data published by the Dickinson 

 (N. Dak.) substation {6 If) and in reports of the Canadian Experi- 

 mental Farms {Jfl). 



LATE AUTUMN GEOWTH. 



The difference in the comparative rate of growth of Medicago 

 falcata and Medicago sativa in the autumn is influenced to a great 

 extent by temperature. In October, 1913, notes were taken at 

 Brookings on the effect on the various alfalfas of a hard freeze that 

 occurred September 22, when the temperature reached 17° F. In 

 general, the plants of Medicago falcata were little affected, and 

 nearly all that were recorded then as being injured were later found 

 to be hybrids of Medicago falcata and Medicago .sativa. The various 

 .strains of Medicago saMva wei'c very noticeably injured, while the 

 hybrids were al.so injured, bat to a somewhat less degree. 



In a season of relatively high fall temperatures and favorable 

 nioistiirci conditions plants of Medicago sativa will produce more 

 late fall gi-owth than those of Medicago falcata. This is (piitc in 

 accordance with the previous discussion under "Spring growth." 



HARDINESS. 



The rhnr'acteristif of" hiirdincss in phints is coininonly (h'fincd !is 

 ability to ('n<liii<' rold. It has jeccntly, howcnci', conic, to have a 

 InojMlci- nicitnin^'-: namely, the ability to survive winter conditions. 



