50 BULLETIN 428, U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
as the varieties of Medicago sativa, and in some cases even greater 
yields. But where the supply of moisture is normally insufficient 
to produce more than one cutting a season, there is real doubt as 
to whether the culture of alfalfa is warranted except on a limited 
scale. It will be noted from Table VIII that in none of the years 
was more than one cutting of J/edicago falcata produced, while in 
1912 and 1913, years with favorable growing seasons, the three cut- 
tings of Medicago sativa gave a total yield far in excess of that 
obtained even from the best number of Medicago falcata. In these 
years the I/edicago falcata plats produced some growth after cutting, 
but not sufficient to be harvested by field machinery. The data in 
the table are supported by the results obtained by the North Dakota 
substation at Dickinson, N. Dak. (64), and by tests at Lacombe, 
Alberta, and Indian Head, Saskatchewan (47). 
Estimates of yield per acre based on yields of hay from widely 
spaced individual plants harvested by a hand sickle are more favor- 
able to Medicago falcata than are the data obtained from fields har- 
vested by machinery. Jedicago falcata in hills 3 feet or more apart 
has a tendency to produce larger plants than J/edicago sativa under 
such:conditions. While its recovery after cutting commonly is slight, 
it is frequently sufficient to permit harvesting by means of a sickle, 
which perceptibly increases the total yield of the season. 
FEEDING VALUE. 
Data procured from the various regions where Medicago falcata 
erows naturally in considerable abundance indicate that it is re- 
garded as of high feeding value. The ‘reports of Nilsson from 
Sweden; Prof. Williams,* of Moscow; Mr. M. S. Bogden, a Russian 
agronomist, Krassny Koot, Samara Government, Russia; David (78) 
from Mongolia; Galwan? from India; and Hansen and Meyer from 
numerous parts of Asia are on this point at least very favorable, if 
not enthusiastic. 
There appear to be no available records of definite feeding tests 
in which Medicago falcata has been carefully compared with com- 
mon alfalfa or other standard forage crops. If chemical analyses 
are accepted as an indication of the feeding value, it is reasonable 
to assume that this species is at least as nutritious as Medicago sativa. 
Analyses were made of samples of the former grown at Highmore 
and are given here mainly for comparison with the average of 
numerous analyses of the latter. (Table IX.) 
1JIn a letter on file in the United States Department of Agriculture. 
