56 BULLETIN 428, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



plants of Medicago falcata were in evidence, but their ability to 

 maintain themselves at that time seemed very doubtful. However, 

 in 1914 some of the plants had reached a considerable size and prom- 

 ised to become well established in the prairie sod. Apparently, only 

 a very few plants of the Grimm alfalfa developed. Similar experi- 

 ments are being conducted at many points throughout the Great 

 Plains region. While the results so far are not particularly encour- 

 aging, the method is worthy of trial. Plants of Medicago falcata are 

 normally found so sparsely scattered in other native vegetation in 

 those parts of Europe and Asia where the species grows that they 

 do not furnish any great amount of grazing per unit area. However, 

 in a new environment, such as this country offers, it is possible that 

 the species may become much more aggressive than it is in its native 

 habitat. 



POSSIBILITIES IN SELECTION AND HYBRIDIZATION. 



While there are important agronomic data still needed on Medi- 

 cago falcata as it is introduced from Europe and Asia, it is reason- 

 ably certain that the greatest possibilities of the species lie in breeding 

 for the development of hardy and drought-resisting strains. Selec- 

 tion alone offers only limited possibilities, but hybridization and 

 selection together offer abundant opportunities for originating new 

 and improved varieties. 



SELECTION. 



As they were introduced, the lots of seed of Medicago falcata 

 contained a mixture of forms, and while certain of them showed 

 considerable uniformity the majority represented such a complex 

 that it was scarcely possible to determine the predominating type. 

 There is already conclusive proof of the value of selection in the 

 separation and development of superior strains of this species. Forms 

 exist that approach Medicago sativa in erectness and general agro- 

 nomic characteristics, and by the propagation of such forms it is 

 possible to establish a fairly uniform strain superior to the mixed 

 lots originally introduced. 



There are several areas in this country where dry-land farming 

 is practiced that are unfavorable for the production of more than 

 one cutting of alfalfa a season. If the crop can be grown profitably 

 in these sections, even if only one cutting is produced, there may be 

 use for select strains of Medicago falcata. However, under the 

 above conditions pure strains of Medicago falcata will meet with 

 keen competition from hybrids of Medicago sativa and Medicago 

 falcata^ since certain of the hybrids probably are nearly or quite as 

 resistant to cold and drought as are the pure strains of Medicago 

 falcata. Furthermore, they possess the additional advantage of 



