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BULLETIN 1244, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 





for the other years have been far from satisfactory; but there was an 

 abnormal deficiency of precipitation during this period. 



The following varieties and strains have been or are being tested 

 in connection with these investigations: 



(1) Common strains from the various States, such as California, Arizona, 

 Nebraska, and Kansas. 



(2) Alfalfas of the northern-grown common group, including Montana com- 

 mon, Dakota common, Liscomb, and Black Hills. 



, (3) Utah irrigated and Utah nonirrigated. 



(4) Variegated alfalfas — Grimm, Baltic, Cossack, Cherno, and Ladak. 



(5) Medicago falcata (Siberian or yellow-flowered alfalfas), several strains. 



(6) Alfalfas from various foreign sources, including Turkestan, Argentina, 

 Italy, Spain, Sweden, France (Provence), Germany, South Africa, Peru, Arabia, 

 Chile, Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand, Palestine, Ecuador, Guatemala, and 

 India. 



ALFALFA IN ROWS. 



A few years ago the growing of alfalfa in rows sufficiently wide to 

 permit of cultivation was very generally advocated, not only for the 

 production of seed but also for hay. This method has been tested 





Fig. 



12.— Alfalfa in cultivated rows at Havre. Mont. This method of cull are has shown no 

 appreciable advantage over broadcast stands either for seed or hay. 



very thoroughly, and there are now sufficient data to show that there 

 is no advantage in following it where there is sufficient moisture to 

 produce a fair crop in thin broadcast or closely drilled sowings. 

 (Fig. 12.) The results of the tests at Havre, Moccasin, Sheridan, 

 and Mandan are given in Table 13. 



At Moccasin, Sheridan, and Mandan there has been practically do 

 difference in the average yields of alfalfa grown in rows or in broad- 

 cast plats, and what little difference there is favors close drills. It 

 is true that seasons occur when the moisture supply is so limited that 

 the broadcast or close-drilled sowings produce no crop while the rows 

 <lo make some growth, but under such conditions yields from row 

 sowings are usually not sufficient to pay for the cost of harvesting. 

 During favorable seasons the growth from broadcast or close-drilled 

 sowings is enough greater to make up for the smaller crop in the 

 dry seasons. 



