50 BULLETIlSr 428, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



as the varieties of Medicago sativa, and in some cases even greater 

 yields. But where the supply of moisture is normally insufficient 

 to produce more than one cutting a season, there is real doubt as 

 to whether the culture of alfalfa is warranted except on a limited 

 scale. It will be noted from Table VIII that in none of the years 

 was more than one cutting of Medicago falcata produced, while in 

 1912 and 1913, years with favorable growing seasons, the three cut- 

 tings of Medicago sativa gave a total yield far in excess of that 

 obtained even from the best number of Medicago falcata. In these 

 years the Medicago falcata plats produced some growth after cutting, 

 but not sufficient to be harvested by field machinery. The data in 

 the table are supported by the results obtained by the North Dakota 

 substation at Dickinson, N. Dak. {6J{), and by tests at Lacombe, 

 Alberta, and Indian Head, Saskatchewan m). 



Estimates of yield jDer acre based on yields of hay from widely 

 spaced individual plants harvested by a hand sickle are more favor- 

 able to Medicago falcata than are the data obtained from fields har- 

 vested by machinery. Medicago falcata in hills 3 feet or more apart 

 has a tendency to produce larger plants than Medicago sativa under 

 such conditions. While its recovery after cutting commonl}^ is slight, 

 it is frequently suflScient to permit harvesting by means of a sickle, 

 which perceptibly increases the total yield of the season. 



FEEDING VALUE. 



Data procured from the various regions where Medicago falcata 

 grows naturally in considerable abundance indicate that it is re- 

 garded as of high feeding value. The reports of Nilsson from 

 Sweden ; Prof. Williams,- of Moscow ; Mr. M. S. Bogden, a Kussian 

 agronomist, Krassny Koot, Samara Government, Russia ; David {18) 

 from Mongolia; Galwan^ from India; and Hansen and Meyer from 

 numerous parts of Asia are on this point at least very favorable, if 

 not enthusiastic. 



There appear to be no available records of definite feeding tests 

 in which Medicago falcata has been carefully compared with com- 

 mon alfalfa or other standard forage crops. If chemical analyses 

 are accepted as an indication of the feeding value, it is reasonable 

 to assume that this species is at least as nutritious as Medicago sativa. 

 Analyses were made of samples of the former grown at Highmore 

 and are given here mainly for comparison with the average of 

 numerous analyses of the latter. (Table IX.) 



^In a letter on file in the United States Department of Agriculture. 



