54 



BULLETIN 428, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



At Brookings, plants of S. P. I. Nos. 20717 and 20725 in hills 24 by 

 36 inches spread to such an extent in four years that it became im- 

 possible to cultivate between the rows. In the case of these introduc- 

 tions the diameters of the crowns were fully twice those of the broad- 

 est crowns of the ordinary alfalfas. While these numbers represent 

 the most spreading forms of the species, even the most erect forms 

 produced a very large crown under such conditions. (Fig. 23.) It 

 appears quite probable that when grown in hills the best hay forms 

 of Medicago falcata will produce a better yield than Medicago sativa 

 where conditions are favorable for only one cutting of the latter. 

 However, under conditions such as ordinarily obtain at Highmore, 



Fig. 22. — A broadcast plat of Medicago falcata in whicli awnless brome-grass {Bromus 

 inermis) has volunteered. The brome-grass has a tendency to cause the Medicago 

 falcata to grow more erectly. 



the data indicate that Medicago sativa^ even in cultivated rows or 

 broadcast, will produce" a heavier yield than Medicago falcata grown 

 in hills 44 by 44 inches. At Brookings, S. P. I. Nos. 20717 and 244.52 

 produced a heavier yield when the plants were grown in hills 24 by 

 36 inches than when grown in broadcast plats. On the other hand, 

 common alfalfa produced a heavier yield in broadcast stands than in 

 cultivated rows or hills. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



The transplanting of alfalfa has been suggested as a partial solu- 

 tion of alfalfa problems in sections having severe conditions of cold 

 and drought. There are serious economic difficulties in the general 

 adoption by farmers of this method of culture. Since economic con- 



