MEDICAGO FALCATA, A YELLOW-FLOWERED ALFALFA. 61 
PRESENT AGRONOMIC STATUS. 
The investigations of the Department of Agriculture on a large 
number of forms of Medicago falcata during the past eight years 
have not determined definitely their agricultural status, but they 
indicate quite clearly the roles which they may be expected to fill 
while our economie conditions remain substantially as they are at 
present. In an endeavor to make clear the agricultural status of 
these new alfalfas as it appears at this time, a summary is here pre- 
sented, in which are set forth the important difficulties in the way 
of their utilization, together with a brief discussion of their advan- 
tages and possibilities as cultivated forage crops. 
Slow recovery after cutting, resulting in the production of only 
one crop of hay in a normal season, is a characteristic of all the forms 
of the species under observation, with the possible exception of 
certain introductions from India. This is perhaps the chief handi- 
cap to their becoming generally cultivated, as it limits the yield to 
a point of doubtful profit. The decumbent habit of most forms is 
not characteristic of all, there being some that are sufficiently erect 
to be harvested successfully by field machinery. Lack of erectness, 
therefore, can not be considered as an objection to the species as 
a whole. 
A difficulty, however, of no small importance is found in the seed 
habits of this species. The quantity of seed that can be successfully 
harvested under the most favorable conditions is small compared 
with that from common alfalfa, and the percentage of hard seed is 
so high as to require a considerable quantity at the time of seeding 
to secure a satisfactory stand. The high percentage of hard seed, 
together with the slow growth of the seedlings, makes it difficult to 
obtain a good stand and maintain it against weeds, especially under 
conditions of broadcast seeding. The minor objections to Medicago 
falcata as a cultivated crop have already been pointed out and need 
not be dwelt upon further. 
The systematic introduction of the species was prompted by a 
desire to find strains of alfalfa sufficiently hardy and drought resis- 
tant to grow successfully in the colder and drier portions of the 
country. Apparently, many of these forms are able to withstand 
severe conditions of cold and drought, to the extent at least of main- 
taining an existence, and in much of the area where dry-land farm- 
ing is now practiced the best strains will produce one cutting in a 
season from planting in hills and rows, if not from broadcast 
seedings. | 
There are two very important questions that present themselves in 
this connection. (1) Will these new alfalfas produce one good cut- 
ting annually in sections now considered too dry for successful 
