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article Mr. Turner states that many pastoralists profiting by 
previous mistakes, are now fully convinced of the necessity of 
conserving these valuable forage plants, which have provided such 
excellent feed for stock during adverse seasons, and several experi- 
enced graziers are even going so far as to cultivate them. A good 
ercentage of saltbushes in the pastures enhances the grazing 
capabilities of the country, and keeps stock in a healthy condition ; 
moreover, their succulent stems and leaves assuage the thirst of the 
animals that browse upon them—a most important consideration in 
country where water is scarce. The plants are easily raised from 
seed, and may be increased by cuttings, so that there are no 
insurmountable difficulties in the way of re-establishing this valu- 
able pasture herbage on those areas from which it has been eaten 
out after years of persistent stocking. With regard to Atriplex 
semibaccata the following statement is quoted from the report of the 
American Agricultural Experiment Stations :—“*This plant has 
proved most valuable in some of the worst alkali spots of California. 
The full crop of a field is about 20 tons of green material, or, 
calculating on the basis of 75 per cent. of water, 5 tons of dry 
matter per acre, A good season would permit of two such crops. 
It seems to be already demonstrated that this Australian species of 
Atriplex will constitute itself a most important industrial factor in 
this State, and will render productive vast tracts of Jand which are 
at present a blot on the landscape. This important saltbush 
might be planted to advantage on some of the ‘scalded’ plains in 
the interior, aud thus they would be covered with herbage and 
rendered productive much sooner than under natural conditions.” 
Under the genus Chenopodium Mr. Turner refers particularly to 
three species. The “blue bush,” C. auricomum, is a superior forage 
plant found on the inland plains, where it often grows 5 ft. high 
or more, Its stems are clothed with almost triangular-shaped leaves 
from 1 in, to 2 in, long, and it is easily recognised on the plains by 
its almost golden hue—hence its specific name auricomum, Sheep 
and cattle are particularly fond of it, and stockmen speak very 
highly of it, both for its nutritive properties and its wholesome 
qualities, The succulent stems and leaves of this “ blue bush,” for 
there are others, are an excellent table vegetable when cooked and 
served in a similar way to spinach, The “ goosefoot saltbush,” 
C. atriplicinum, rarely grows more than | ft. high, but it branches 
freely from its thick base, and often forms a dense mass of 
nutritious succulent herbage, much relished by all herbivora. Its 
tap-like root penetrates deeply into the earth, and in consequence 
the plant is often green when the surrounding herbage is brown. 
The “nitre bush,” C. nitrariacea, is a branching undershrub of 
from 3 ft. to 4 ft. in height, though under cultivation it grows 8 ft. 
high and 6 ft. in diameter. It is fairly common on some of the 
inland plains, and sheep in eating this bush often trim it as neatly 
as if it had been clipped with hand-shears. It withstands a lot of 
dry weather, and no matter how closely it is cropped soon puts forth — 
new ecrowth. : | 
The genus Kochia includes fifteen known species. One of the best 
and most favourably known to stock owners is the “cotton bush 
( Kochia aphylla), so called from the woolly-like galls which form — 
on the plant during periods of prolonged dry weather, and 
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