REPORT^OF ALFALFA INVESTIGATIONS. 
By PHILO K. BLINN. 
The attempt to improve the hay and seed yielding’ traits of 
alfalfa, by systematic seed selection, has had decidedly encouraging 
results; although it may yet require several years of close observa¬ 
tion to fully determine the best types for hay and seed production- 
The conclusions from some of the observations, have been 
rather doubtful, and there are reasons for discounting the value of 
some of the contrasts that have appeared; for instance, the selec¬ 
tions, for ideal leaf, and stem qualities, made the first season, dur¬ 
ing the seedling growth of the plants in the nursery, have since 
proven of little value, as there was a decided change in the type of 
foliage, when the plants took on a more rapid and succulent growth: 
The same result would follow, as the effect of environment, rather 
than heredity, for any trait that might appear; hence, the problem 
is to select plants that have an inherent power for the reproduction 
of desirable qualities; but, with nearly a hundred strains to consider, 
and at least a score of points of variation appearing in endless com ¬ 
bination, this has not been an easy undertaking. 
Several of the varieties tested, show contrasts of decidedly 
pratical value, such as, hardiness, habits of stooling, qualities of 
resistence, to drouth, frost and fungus diseases, leafy hay qualities 
and prolific seed yields. These valuable traits are not found in any 
one variety, and it is difficult to say which strains, have the points 
of greatest utility; it is certainly obvious, that marked improvement 
over most of the ordinary types, of alfalfa is possible, if only seed 
of some of the strains tested, could be procured, which however, is 
difficult, as different lots of seed supposed to be the same, often 
prove entirely different. 
It is impossible to identify the seed origin of a field of alfalfa, 
and it is equally difficult, to make varietal distinction, in. the points 
that are casually observed; for with few exceptions, the same col¬ 
ored flowers, the same shaped leaves, and the same general type of 
plants, may be found in nearly all varieties, and there is often 
a greater range of variation in the individual plants of a single 
strain, than in the contrast of so called varieties. 
It is difficult to judge the merits of alfalfa, growing under 
different conditions of soil, and cultural care; but, in a comparative 
test under uniform conditions, the contrasts are clearly shown, also 
in nearly all varieties it is easy to recognize the superior qualities of 
some of the individual plants; which suggests the single plant as 
the unit for seed selection. 
The results of our nursery work with individual plant selec¬ 
tions have revealed the facts, that in plants, showing desirable 
qualities, some will reproduce the traits, quite uniformly true, while 
