MEDICAGO FALCATA, A YELLOW-FLOWERED ALFALFA. 21 
these lines can not be made. In order to include in the same class 
the forms that most naturally resemble each other, 1t seems necessary 
to make the divisions along the line of plant type with regard to 
erectness, type of crown, and general habit of growth. A classifica- 
tion even on this basis has in it many inconsistencies, not only with 
regard to special botanical characters, but also in the general charac- 
teristics upon which it is founded. Its weaknesses from a botanical 
standpoint are fully appreciated, yet it seems to be less artificial than 
the other classifications that suggest themselves. It possesses the ad- 
ditional advantage of being based on characters of agronomic im- 
Fic. 8.—Individual ‘plant of Medicago falcata, S. P. I. No. 20725, as viewed from directly 
above ; a very procumbent, fine-stemmed form, illustrating Group I. 
portance; in fact, it is perhaps more agronomic than botanical, and is 
certainly more in the nature of a convenient grouping than an outline 
of actual relationships. It is hoped that a further study of the mate- 
rial will result in the development of a more satisfactory classification. 
The system which is adopted herein provides for four groups. 
Certain of these are pretty clearly defined, while some differ from 
others only in degree. Each group is illustrated by a figure of an 
individual plant, and for the benefit of those to whom the depart- 
ment’s introductions of J/edicago falcata are available S. P. I. num- 
bers are cited, which include forms that are typical of the groups. 
