56 BULLETIN 428, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
plants of Mfedicago falcata were in evidence, but their ability to 
maintain themselves at that time seemed very doubtful. However, 
in 1914 some of the plants had reached a considerable size and prom- 
ised to become well established in the prairie sod. Apparently, only 
a very few plants of the Grimm alfalfa developed. Similar experi- 
ments are being conducted at many points throughout the Great 
Plains region. While the results so far are not particularly encour- 
aging, the method is worthy of trial. Plants of Medicago falcata are 
normally found so sparsely scattered in other native vegetation in 
those parts of Europe and Asia where the species grows that they 
do not furnish any great amount of grazing per unit area. However, 
in a new environment, such as this country offers, it is possible that 
the species may become much more aggressive than it is in its native 
habitat. | : 
POSSIBILITIES IN SELECTION AND HYBRIDIZATION. 
While there are important agronomic data still needed on Medi- 
cago falcata as it is introduced from Europe and Asia, it is reason- 
ably certain that the greatest possibilities of the species lie in breeding 
for the development of hardy and drought-resisting strains. Selec- 
tion alone offers only limited possibilities, but hybridization and 
selection together offer abundant opportunities for originating new 
and improved varieties. 
SELECTION. 
As they were introduced, the lots of seed of Medicago falcata 
contained a mixture of forms, and while certain of them showed 
considerable uniformity the majority represented such a complex 
that it was scarcely possible to determine the predominating type. 
There is already conclusive proof of the value of selection in the 
separation and development of superior strains of this species. Forms 
exist that approach Medicago sativa in erectness and general agro- 
nomic characteristics, and by the propagation of such forms it is 
possible to establish a fairly uniform strain superior to the mixed 
lots originally introduced. | 
There are several areas in this country where dry-land farming 
is practiced that are unfavorable for the production of more than 
one cutting of alfalfa a season. If the crop can be grown profitably 
in these sections, even if only one cutting is produced, there may be 
use for select strains of Medicago falcata. However, under the 
above conditions pure strains of Medicago falcata will meet with 
keen competition from hybrids of Medicago sativa and Medicago 
falcata, since certain of the hybrids probably are nearly or quite as 
resistant to cold and drought as are the pure strains of Medicago 
falcata. Furthermore, they possess the additional advantage of 
