MEDICAGO FALCATA, A YELLOW-FLOWERED ALFALFA. 63 



It is in the field of plant breeding that Medicago falcata offers its 

 gi-eatest usefulness, and in this field its possibilities have been only 

 partially developed. Our most hardy and drought-resistant alfalfas 

 have been developed as a result of natural hybridization with 'Medi- 

 cago sativa and subsequent natural selection. By the artificial cross- 

 ing of Medicago sativa with forms of Medicago falcata that possess 

 striking and valuable characteristics, such as are offered by the 

 abundant material now available, it has already been demonstrated 

 quite definitely that strains of alfalfa appreciably superior to even 

 the best now available can be originated. Furthermore, it is now 

 generally recognized that the only practicable way of maintaining 

 superior strains is by developing new ones continuously. The whole 

 field of investigation so far as Medicago falcata is concerned is still 

 open to those who are amply equipped, both financially and by train- 

 ing, to do careful investigational work. It is believed that the burden 

 of the development of this species to the point where it can be suc- 

 cessfully utilized should fall on the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, the State agricultural experiment stations, and similar 

 institutions, and not on the farmer. Furthermore, the farmer is 

 advised to go to no great expense in procuring seed of the forms of 

 the species now available, since the returns which he might reason- 

 ably expect will scarcely be commensurate with the expense involved. 



The breeding work is being done as rapidly as possible, and just as 

 soon as it has reached the point where promising strains, either pure 

 or of hybrid origin, have been perfected, they will be made available 

 to the public. 



SUMMARY. 



The first importation of Medicago falcata into the United States 

 of which there is a record was made in 1897. The first systematic 

 introductions for the purpose of utilizing the species as a cultivated 

 forage crop were made in 1906 by Prof. N. E. Hansen under the 

 auspices of the United States Department of Agriculture. Since 

 that date many lots of seed representing various forms of the species 

 have been introduced by Prof. Hansen, Mr. Frank N. Meyer, and 

 various others. Approximately fifty lots have been introduced, 

 mostly from Kussia and Siberia. 



At the present time Medicago falcata is found growing without 

 cultivation in most parts of Europe and the western two-thirds of 

 Asia. Over a large portion of this area it probably is indigenous. 

 It is found throughout a wide range of soil and climatic conditions 

 jirifl at depressions and elevations ranging from below sea level to 

 l'i,000 feet above. It is much wider in its adaptations than Medica/jo 

 Hutiva. 



