ALFALFA BREEDING FOK DROUGHT RESISTANCE. 19 



killing during each of these winters, especially in the breeding nur- 

 sery, where .the test is most severe. The winter of 1905-6 was 

 especially severe; among 20 stocks tested at Highmore, 8 winter- 

 killed greatly and were discarded. Some winterkilling was noted in 

 all the varieties except South Dakota No. 162, which is strain E of 

 the above table 



FUTURE TESTING OF STRAINS. 



The bulk seed from each of the best progeny rows was planted in 

 1910 under two conditions, in cultivated rows (PL I, fig. 2) and in 

 broadcast plats. If conditions favor a test, the comparative drought 

 resistance of the different strains, progenies, and individual plants 

 will be carefully noted. At the beginning of the season a record of 

 their hardiness and earliness of development was made. Later in 

 the season comparisons of }delds will be made from the broadcast 

 plats as to forage production and from the cultivated rows as to seed 

 production. If the progenies which have proved superior thus far 

 continue to show superiority in these characters, combined with 

 hardiness and drought resistance, seed from them will be increased 

 and distributed as soon as possible. 



ALFALFA BREEDING AT THE AKRON DRY-LAND STATION. 



The plan followed at Bellefourche in the alfalfa-breeding work has 

 been followed at the Akron Dry-Land Station. There is not likely 

 to be so severe a test of hardiness or resistance to winterkilling at 

 Akron as farther north in the Great Plains. The test of drought 

 resistance, however, is hkely to be quite as thorough. 



The strains of alfalfa are the same as those used at the Bellefourche 

 Experiment Farm. The plan has been to divide the seed of the selec- 

 tions made at Bellefourche and from other sources and plant part of 

 the seed at Bellefourche and part at Akron. In this way a comparison 

 of the effect of somewhat different climatic and soil conditions can be 

 made and the possibility of obtaining an adequate test of drought 

 resistance is increased. As the breeding nursery was established in 

 1909, no results have yet been obtained except notes on the season's 

 growth and the autumn stand of each progeny row. 



SEED PRODUCTION OF ALFALFA PLANTED IN HILLS. 



Maximum seed production in alfalfa can no doubt be attained by 

 growing plants in such a manner as to allow cultivation of the soil 

 rather than by planting in broadcast plats. The method of planting 

 in single or double cultivated rows has been recommended a and is 

 unquestionably an improvement over the broadcast method for seed 

 production. The results as to seed production in the breeding nursery 



a Brand, C. J., and Westgate, J. M. Circular 24, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. 

 Dept. of Agriculture. 

 196 



