MEDICAGO FALCATA, A YELLOW-FLOWERED ALFALFA, 53 



taining a satisfactory stand from broadcast seeding, the cultural re- 

 quirements of Medicago falcata are essentially the same as those for 

 Medic ago sativa. 



CULTIVATED ROWS. 



There is nothing unusual in the behavior of Medidago falcata in 

 cultivated rows. The yields of both hay and seed bear approxi- 

 mately the same relation to the jdelds of Medicago sativa under such 

 conditions as they do in broadcast sowings. The poor germination 

 of the seed and the slowness of growth of the seedlings occasion diffi- 

 culty in the cultivation of the row^s while the plants are young. 

 This can be obviated to some extent by mixing with the seed a small 



Fig. 21. — A broadcast plat of Medicar/o falcata after cutting with the mowing machine. 

 Note the failure of the mower to cut many of the decumbent stems. 



quantity of some quickly germinating seed that produces large 

 seedlings which disappear before endangering the alfalfa plants. 

 In experimental plantings, refuse radish seed has answered the pur- 

 pose very well, but such seed is not available for planting on a field 

 scale. A 42-inch row has given very satisfactory I'esults in tests. On 

 account of the spreading habit of most of the forms, rows appre- 

 ciably closer than this would be somewhat difficult to cultivate after 

 the first two or three years. 



HILLS. 



Tn sonic respects Medira{/o falcata is better suited (o cuHivation in 

 widely spaccfl hills than Medicago Hatiiui.. The larger development 

 of the crown of the former is an important factor in this connection. 



