MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 155 



Had heed been given to the warning of American experts, these plants, so 

 peculiarly suited to hot arid plains, would not have been exposed to the wet 

 and mud which caused their destruction in the experiment at Aligarh. [N.B, 

 la this connection I see it stated that Lowland Purslane (Sesuviuni) and 

 Saltwort (Su(eda) are suited to moist alkali and salt-marsh soils.] It has been 

 ascertained that the ash of the Atriplex semibaccata contains 40 per cent, of 

 sodium chlorid ; and it is calculated that the removal from the land of a 

 five-ton crop of this salt-bush hay will take away nearly a ton of salt per 

 acre. It would therefore evidently be a great mistake to plough it in, as has 

 been done in the case of rice and hemp, for this would have the effect of 

 returning the noxious salts to the soil. Mr. Moreland states that a further 

 trial is being made of certain salt-bushes and allied plants. It would be 

 interesting to know the names of these, and I trust Atriplex semibaccata is 

 among the number. 



10. The extended investigation above suggested are probably beyond the; 

 resources of existing expert establishments in India, which have done their 

 best with insufficient means. But the practical issues are so momentous, 

 that we must hope the Government of India, seeing what has been accom- 

 plished in America will not hesitate to equip Experiment Stations and 

 Agricultural Laboratories on a scale similar to those at Washington and in 

 California. It would be well to obtain the co-operation of the Indian Uni- 

 versities and Technical Colleges in organising the operations ; and in order 

 that the work may be conducted continuously, and at moderate cost, a st.iff 

 of young Indian scientists might be permanently enlisted, to be specially 

 trained for these investigations. Professor Bose and others have shown 

 what valuable results may thus be produced in the various departments of 

 scientific research. 



11. It is gratifying that the Secretary of State has expressed his interest 

 an drought-resisting fodder-plants, and has moved the Government of India 

 to cause the subject to be taken up earnestly by the Agricultural Depart- 

 ments in all Provinces. The prospect is encouraging ; for every " usar " 

 acre that can be planted with salt-bush, will provide tons of wholesome 

 sustenance for cattle, while gradually bringing into culturable condition 

 waste lands which are described as being " intrinsically of the very richest, 

 description." 



W. WEDDERBURN, 



Indian Famine Union, 



Palace Chambers, 



Westminster, S.W. 

 1st January 1903. 



