Jan. 2, 190S.'] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 53 



This report sums up the results of the experiment clearly, and in a concise, 

 jjractical manner. Coming from such an experienced and recognised 

 authority on western conditions, it shows conclusively the great value salt- 

 bush has for mitigating the effects of the droughts, which periodically visit 

 these (h-y districts. 



That sheep for twenty-one months maintained a healthy condition on a 

 •diet consisting almost exckisively of saltbush, and during that time produced 

 fair fleeces and reared lambs, demonstrates that the feeding value of salt- 

 bush is very good. Seeing that the small saltbush paddock in which the 

 ■experiment was conducted carried an average of nearly one and a half sheep 

 per acre for twelve months, and then an average of over three sheep per acre 

 ' for a further consecutive period of nine months, it is evident that the 

 carrying capacity of conserved saltbush country is very high. From these 

 facts it is plain that the pastoralist, by planting and conserving saltbush, 

 has available a practical method of making provision for times when grass 

 and ordinary herbage is scarce. 



Once established, the saltbushes will remain available for many years. 

 The recuperative power of the plant is very great. At the conclusion of the 

 experiment, the saltbushes had the appearance of a number of dead bushes, 

 as may be seen from the illustration (Fig. 2). which shows the paddock just 

 after the sheep were removed. The sheep had nibbled off the young shoots 

 as fast as they_ appeared, and because of this, it was feared that the bushes 

 might be permanently injured and would not recover their usual vigour. 

 These fears proved groundless, for, twelve months after the sheep had been 

 removed, the bushes had almost as much feed on them as ever, and presented 

 the appearance shown in Fig. 3, which is from a photograph taken some 

 twelve months after the termination of the experiment. 



By this experiment, the value of saltbush for our western country has 

 been demonstrated in no uncertain way. In order to make the fullest vise 

 of the advantages which this plant possesses, the cheapest and most expe- 

 ditious method of planting it will have to be sought and found. A suggested 

 •cheap (but untried) method, and one which seems likely to be successful, is 

 to sow the seed, on bxish-land or on plain country, with a maize-planter or 

 similar implement during a favourable season. Such an implement, drawn 

 ])y a horse, woidd open a furrow for the seed, deposit the seed, cover it up, 

 and at the same time compress the seed into the moist earth. The difficulties 

 in the way of sowing the seed effectively, but cheaply, are purely mechanical, 

 and are likely to be readily solved once attention is drawn to this subject. 

 Possibly the now almost ubiquitous poison cart could be adapted, with slight 

 alteration, for the purpose. 



For the planting of seed with any machine to \)Q attended with success, it 

 is believed that some provision for compressing the seed into the moist earth 

 as it is planted will be absolutely necessary. 



