Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 
Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER January 9, 1917 
MEDICAGO FALCATA, A YELLOW-FLOWERED 
ALFALFA. 
By R. A. OAKLEY, Agronomist, and SAMUEL GARVER, Scientific Assistant, Office 
of Forage-Crop Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page 
MrIpTOUUCHONEEe vote aa)e ssosets ses cscee ee 2 1 | Agronomic characteristics—Continued. 
Introduction of Medicago falcata into the Seediprodiction=as--a-peeeeoeee ese e eee 47 
WnitedeStatesesemen is. seiecs caccec seieeleeic 2 Wields Ofhaycc. (ooo a. Sete cen oe Se 49 
Naturaldistriibutiones...--22-- 2. a eee. 5 Meeding valuesce-- eassa eer eee eee 50 
Climatic and soil requirements.....--....-.-- @) Culturalanvestigationse-254 sss 4sseeeneceeee 51 
Obama MISGOLYcacieieisic!slsiaite 2')~ -iaWbiniaia' mie" 8 Broadcast SeeGings = anee = ee ee eee eee 52 
Botanical description and relationship... ---- 13 Cultivatedirowsesaese eee eee eee 53 
Botanical description .- 2. .-.-2. 5225.22: 13 PU Seite, Poo Ste ts oka SY ocrs het mettoae 53 
Botanical relationship................--- 24 rans plan tii oe aes cet eee ae eee 54 
Mvoricuilturaluhistonyener naan. -c-eecien conics 33 Seeding on the range.....:-.-...-...-.<- 55 
Commonmmamesseseces ee eee eee 34 Possibilities in selection and hybridization... 56° 
Agronomic characteristics........-----.------ 35 | Selection esc. c2 see ewe Ae cae 56 
Generalihabits of growth: <2.-5222-5.22.. 36 FRY DriGizatlone. =i cis see -i-15 = hoes eee cos 57 
Characteristics of the vegetative growth. - 36 Difficulties in establishing new strains. -- 59 
Stem characteristics......---.-...-- Meare 37 | Present agronomic status..........-....-.--: 61 
enods:oherowtle-coss.sco2--sic2-22- 2: 38) SUMMAary Skee rere cee eee ae eee ee ere 63 
METAL GIN CSS Bescon ected Saeco 413) Literaturecited sasee sc. ciasceee nee eeee cee 67 
Drought resistances .2i=-2-222-.ssce ese 45 
INTRODUCTION. 
Eight years have elapsed since Medicago falcata L. was brought to 
this country with the serious view of utilizing it as a cultivated for- 
age crop. During this period much attention has been directed to- 
1From 1910 to 1913, inclusive, investigations were conducted with Medicago falcata 
at Brookings, Highmore, and other points in South Dakota in cooperation with the South 
Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. 
The writers wish to acknowledge their indebtedness to Mr. H. L. Westover for valuable 
assistance rendered in translating botanical descriptions and in reviewing literature and 
to Mrs. Katherine S. Bort for assistance in connection with the literature consulted in the 
preparation of the subject matter. 
NotH.—This bulletin is intended primarily for those who are interested in- alfalfa 
breeding. 
55890°—Bull. 428—17——1 
