VARIEGATED ALFALFA. 1 23 



Cultural conditions: It is of agricultural value only where 

 the climate is too severe or the soil too poor for ordinary Alfalfa, 

 as it inherits some of the hardiness of Yellow Lucerne. Its European 

 name, Sand Lucerne, indicates that it is suitable for poor, dry soil. 



Climate: Its fame has been established by its ability to stand 

 severe cold better than ordinary Alfalfa, which makes it of partic- 

 ular interest to Canada. 



Agricultural value : The value of the primary hybrid for fodder 

 is inferior to that of the ordinary Alfalfa; the yield is lower and the 

 feeding quality is not so good. The decumbent growth which it often 

 inherits from Yellow Lucerne affects both yield and quality. The 

 danger of lodging is greater than with ordinary Alfalfa, especially 

 where the growth is rank. Its spreading habit makes it more difficult 

 to cut, the mower being often unable to get below the stems. 



Varieties: On account of its hybrid origin. Variegated Alfalfa 

 varies extremely. There are many commercial "varieties" of a 

 somewhat different agricultural value. The most famous and at 

 present undoubtedly the most important of these is Grimm's Alfalfa, 

 which is hardy for the Alfalfa-growing districts of Canada and the 

 northern United States. Of special interest for Canada is Canadian 

 Variegated Alfalfa, which, according to experiments conducted by 

 Prof. C. A. Zavitz at the Ontario Agricultural College, is equal 

 to Grimm's Alfalfa and decidedly hardier than any ordinary variety. 



Grimm's and Canadian Variegated Alfalfa, like all other varieties 

 of Variegated Alfalfa, are by no means uniform but include plants 

 of very different value. Some of them are like ordinary Alfalfa in 

 growth and yield, others are like Yellow Lucerne. On account of 

 this variation, there are great possibilities of obtaining by selection 

 high-yielding varieties that will combine the desirable qualities of 

 true Alfalfa with the hardiness of Yellow Lucerne. 



Behold the Flowers are divers in Stature, in Quality, and Colour, and Smell, and Virtue; and 

 some are better than some: Also where the Gardener hath set them, there they stand, and quarrel 

 not one with another. — John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, 1628-88. 



A noble plant suits not with a stubborn ground. — George Herbert, Jacula Prudentum, or Out- 

 landish Proverbs, IS93-1632. 



Nor do I think that men will ever reach the end and far-extended limits of the vegetable kingdom; 

 so incomprehensible is the variety it every day produces, of the most useful and admirable of all the 

 aspectable works of God. — ^John Evelyn, A Discourse ofSallets, 1620-1706. 



