The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-08
HARDY ALFALFA IMPORTED.

Considerable interest has peen arous-
ed through the Importation by the u.
S. department of agriculture OF some
new, hardy varieties of alfalfa. Little,
however is generally known concern
ing the characteristics of these new al
falfas or the real purposes of their
introduction.
In the search for hardy forms of
common alfalfa (Medicago satiya1
adapted to severe conditions of drought
and cold, the potential value of closely,
allied species became apparent, A yell
low-fowered species CMedicago falca-
tai found widely distributed through
out Eurasia, forms of which thrive on
the cold, dry steppes of Russia and
similar regions, seemed to be the most
promising. For this reason persistent
valuable forms of this species.
Medicago f~alcata, enormously called
siberian alfalfa" and for which there
Is no satisfactory omuon name, Is
characterized in general by its droop-
ing habit, narrow leaves, and fine
stems; but it Is so variable that some
plants may be readily mistaken for
common alfalfa when not in flower.
Very few of the forms possess true tap.
roots like the common alfalfa but they
nave q branching root system by which
new plants are produced. The flowers
are yellow and the seed pods falcate or
sickle shaped, hence its botanical name.
The department of agriculture has
met with many difficulties in procur-
ing seed in quantity, as 1t is not
handled commercially and in no place
is it produced in abundance. In spite
of the scarcity of seed very thorough
tests have been conducted both under
cultivation and on unbroken sod at the
departments testing stations and in
cooperative. experiments at state sta
ions. The results of these tests of the
available forms of Medicago falcata in
! dicate ather definitely that their chief
value Is for crossing with common al
falfa to produce hardy and drought
resistant hybrid strains. At present
the new alfalfas do not appear to be
sufficiently productive to make them
generally profitable under cultivation.
| Many of the forms are unquestionably
very. hardy and drought resistant and
have already shown their value az
stock for crossing with varieties COM
monty known.
One of the hardest. If not the hard
lest of our commercial strains, the
| Grimm alfalfa, probably originated
through natural hybridization of Medi-
cago falcata and common alfalfa.
! Grimm alfalfa Is coming into very wide
use in the northwestern states. The
new alfalfas have not yet been tested
on the open range as fully as under
| cultivation. Although the results to
( date Indicate their inability to main
tain themselves except under very
favorable conditions. the tests are new
ertheless being continued with the hope
of ultimate success In improving the
range.
The experts of the department do
not believe that this ye1low-dowered
alfalfa in it's unsolicited state is a crop
for the farmer to test. even though
~siderations show that 1t is not likely
to prove valuable under cultivation:
ID Most of it's forms are not sufficient
ly erect to be easily harvested for hay;
(2) it does not recover quickly after
cutting and can not be expected to
give more han n cutting during the
season; CD it's seed habits are usually
poor, the seed being scantily produced
and shattering badly at maturity.
The department of agriculture is
pushing the work of selection by hy-
b~ridization OF the best forms of this
species as rapidly as possible, In the
hope that valuable drought~resistant
and cold-resistant strains may uItimat-
ely be established in general use.