MEDICAGO FALCATA, A YELLOW-FLOWERED ALFALFA. 63 
Tt is in the field of plant breeding that Medicago falcata offers its 
greatest usefulness, and in this field its possibilities have been only 
partially developed. Our most hardy and drought-resistant alfalfas 
have been developed as a result of natural hybridization with Medi- 
cago sativa and subsequent natural selection. By the artificial cross- 
ing of Medicago sativa with forms of Medicago falcata that possess 
striking and valuable characteristics, such as are offered by the 
abundant material now available, it has already been demonstrated 
quite definitely that strains of alfalfa appreciably superior to even 
the best now available can be originated. Furthermore, it is now 
generally recognized that the only practicable way of maintaining 
superior strains is by developing new ones continuously. The whole 
field of investigation so far as Medicago falcata is concerned is stil] 
open to those who are amply equipped, both financially and by train- 
ing, to do careful investigational work. It is believed that the burden 
of the development of this species to the point where it can be suc- 
cessfully utilized should fall on the United States Department of 
Agriculture, the State agricultural experiment stations, and similar 
institutions, and not on the farmer. Furthermore, the farmer is 
advised to go to no great expense in procuring seed of the forms of 
the species now available, since the returns which he might reason- 
ably expect will scarcely be commensurate with the expense involved. 
The breeding work is being done as rapidly as possible, and just as 
soon as it has reached the point where promising strains, either pure 
or of hybrid origin, have been perfected, they will be made available 
to the public. 
SUMMARY. 
The first importation of Medicago falcata into the United States 
of which there is a record was made in 1897. The first systematic 
introductions for the purpose of utilizing the species as a cultivated 
forage crop were made in 1906 by Prof. N. E. Hansen under the 
auspices of the United States Department of Agriculture. Since 
that date many lots of seed representing various forms of the species 
have been introduced by Prof. Hansen, Mr. Frank N. Meyer, and 
various others. Approximately fifty lots have been introduced, 
mostly from Russia and Siberia. 
At the present time Medicago falcata is found growing without 
cultivation in most parts of Kurope and the western two-thirds of 
Asia. Over a large portion of this area it probably is indigenous. 
Tt is found throughout a wide range of soil and climatic conditions 
and at depressions and elevations ranging from below sea level to 
13,000 feet above. It is much wider in its adaptations than Medicago 
sativa. 
