MEDICAGO FALCATA, A YELLOW-FLOWERED ALFALFA, 61 



PRESENT AGRONOMIC STATUS. 



The investigations of the Department of Agriculture on a large 

 number of forms of MecUcago falcata during the past eight years 

 have not determined definitely their agricultural status, but they 

 indicate quite clearly the roles which they may be expected to fill 

 while our economic conditions remain substantially as they are at 

 present. In an endeavor to make clear the agricultural status of 

 these new alfalfas as it appears at this time, a summary is here pre- 

 sented, in which are set forth the important difficulties in the way 

 of their utilization, together with a brief discussion of their advan- 

 tages and possibilities as cultivated forage crops. 



Slow recovery after cutting, resulting in the production of only 

 one crop of hay in a normal season, is a characteristic of all the forms 

 of the species under observation, with the possible exception of 

 certain introductions from India. This is perhaps the chief handi- 

 cap to their becoming generally cultivated, as it limits the yield to 

 a point of doubtful profit. The decumbent habit of most forms is 

 not characteristic of all, there being some that are sufficiently erect 

 to be harvested successfully by field machinery. Lack of erectness, 

 therefore, can not be considered as an objection to the species as 

 a whole. 



A difficulty, however, of no small importance is found in the seed 

 habits of this species. The quantity of seed that can be successfully 

 harvested under the most favorable conditions is small compared 

 with that from common alfalfa, and the percentage of hard seed is 

 so high as to require a considerable quantity at the time of seeding 

 to secure a satisfactory stand. The high percentage of hard seed, 

 together with the slow growth of the seedlings, makes it difficult to 

 obtain a good stand and maintain it against weeds, especially under 

 r-onditions of broadcast seeding. The minor objections to Medicago 

 falcata as a cultivated crop have already been pointed out and need 

 not be dwelt upon further. 



The systematic introduction of the species was prompted by a 

 desire to find .strains of alfalfa sufficiently hardy and drought resis- 

 tant to grow successfully in the colder and drier portions of the 

 country. Apparently, many of these forms are able to withstand 

 severe conditions of cold and drought, to the extent at least of main- 

 taining an existence, and in much of the area where dry-land farm- 

 ing is now [)racticod the best strains will produce one cutting in a 

 sea.son from planting in hills and rows, if not from broadcast 

 seedings. 



Thei-c are (wo very ini|)or'tant questions that pi-escnt tlieinselves in 

 this connection. (1) Will these new alfalfas produce one good cut- 

 ting annually in sections now considered too dry for successful 



