32 
which are generally supposed to be caused by some insect. The 
“cotton bush,” which grows from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, occupies 
large tracts of country in the interior, and its presence is nearly 
always an indication of good grazing land. Stock of all kinds 
are remarkably fond of this plant, on which they thrive and 
fatten. In dry seasons on some stations quantities of it are cut 
and chaffed before being fed to stock. The chaffed material after 
being cut a few days has a perfume like new mown hay. Some- 
times “ cotton-bush ” is chaffed with “mulga” (Acacia aneura) and 
“belar” (Casuarina glauca), and horses and bullocks are said not 
only to work well but to fatten on this feed. In any system of 
conservation of saltbushes this shrub should be amongs* the first to 
receive attention, The “grey bush” (K. pyramidata) is a many- 
branched shrub, growing 3 ft. high or more. The whole plant is 
covered with a soft tomentum of a greyish colour, hence stockmen 
called it “grey bush.” It occurs over an immense area in the 
interior, aud is quite a feature on some of the plains, This salt- 
bush generally grows on good land, and it is probably on that 
account that it thrives during prolonged dry weather. Sheep are 
particularly fond of this plant, and analysis shows that it possesses 
good feeding value. 
Most of the species of the genus Rhagodia are excellent forage 
plants, the tallest being R. parabolica, which sometimes attains a 
height of 15 ft. Two of the dwarfest species of this genus are the 
* flax-leafed saltbush ” (2. linifolia) and the “nodding saltbush ” 
tata) grows from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high in a natural state, but attains a 
height of 5 or 6 ft. under cultivation. This is the saltbush that is 
so largely grown as a hedge plant, for which purpose it is admirably 
adapted, as it will withstand any amount of clipping without injury. 
In the interior, sheep, when eating the succulent stems and foliage 
sheep and other 
small herbivora if — eat too much of the plants when the fruits 
cattle, Stockmen call the rip 
Anisacantha “ bindyhies,” 
camp out in country where the 
Once these fruits, with their adh 
they can rarely be removed, 
prea on ee 
