518 
MEDICAGO SP. (Fabaceae.) 32410. Seeds of an alfalfa from 
near Sarepta, Saratov government, Russia. "An alfalfa of 
robust, almost erect growth, fit for dry situations. Is either 
a form -of M. falcata or of M. coerulea which has been collect- 
ed near Sarepta." (Meyer's introduction.) For distribution 
later . 
MEDICAGO FALCATA. (Fabaceae.) 32389, 32409, 32411-412. 
Seeds of alfalfas from western Siberia, from near Sarepta, 
Saratov government, and from Krassny Koot, Samara government, 
Russia. "The 'sholteek', as this wild alfalfa is generally- 
called in. western Siberia, occurs over the greater part of 
Eurasia, being found in the Himalayas as low as the 30th de- 
gree of latitude and near Yakutsk and in Norway between the 
60th and 70th parallels. There is a very great amount of va- 
riation to be observed in the wild plant; some forms grow up 
to be 5 to 6 feet tall and fairly erect, while others reach a 
height of a few inches only and are often of prostrate habit 
entirely. The more prostrate forms lend themselves excellent- 
ly to naturalization purposes on dry pasture grounds, while 
the more erect varieties may be cultivated for forage purposes 
in sections of the United States were the ordinary alfalfa is 
winterkilled. The present habits of the 'sholteek' indicate 
that possibly a great amount of selection and breeding may 
have to be done before ideal types will have been evolved, but 
the many excellent qualities this plant possesses, viz., the 
eagerness with which all sorts of domestic animals devour it, 
the apparently great nutritive value, especially for milch- 
cows, its remarkable resistance to drought, to close grazing, 
and to adverse conditions in general, all seem to make it well 
worth while to spend some extra efforts on improvement. The 
roots of this 'sholteek' also possess the capacity of produc- 
ing new plants whenever cut off or when exposed to the air, 
through the soil being washed away. This characteristic is of 
great value indeed in pasture grounds, where the crowns are 
easily damaged by the close grazing and by the hoofs of the 
animals tramping over them. The soil best suited to this 
Medicago seems to be a blackish well-drained earth, but one 
also finds it growing luxuri antly • in pebbly banks, and in dry 
cliffs, composed of sandy loam." (Meyer's introductions.) 
For distribution later. 
MEDICAGO SATIVA VARIA. (Fabaceae.) 32408. Seed of an 
alfalfa from Krassny Koot, Samara government, Russia. "A very 
strong-growing hybrid alfalfa, having heavy erect stems, which 
are well supplied with foliage. Obtained from Mr. W. S. 
Bogdan, at Krassny Koot, who is making extensive selection and 
hybridization experiments with Medicago falcata and who has 
