AUSTRALIAN SALTBUSH. 327 



than broad leaves. After growing upward for a short 

 distance, the branches reach outward and many of 

 them droop. In this way branches from a single bush 

 have been known to extend a distance of 8 feet in every 

 direction from the crown of the plant, but usually they 

 are much less in size, especially when they are crowded. 

 The stems become quite woody for some distance from 

 the base as the plants grow older, hence the outer por- 

 tions are much more suitable for food. The roots go 

 down deeply into the soil and subsoil. In hard pan 

 soils they are not much branched, but under conditions 

 the opposite the branches are numerous and spread 

 out in every direction. 



Australian Saltbush is perennial. It furnishes pas- 

 ture and also hay for horses, cattle, sheep and goats, 

 where other plants that furnish these in more desirable 

 forms will not grow. The best service which it thus ren- 

 ders is in soils so impregnated with alkali that they 

 will sustain but few forms of vegetable life. 



Distribution. — Plants of the Saltbush species are 

 native to both the old and new worlds. The Austra- 

 lian Saltbush is doubtless native to Australia and was 

 introduced into California in 1888. 



It is adapted to warm climates. How far north 

 it may be grown has not been determined, but unless 

 beside the Pacific, it is questionable if it will endure 

 the winters further north than Spokane in Washing- 

 ton. It will of course thrive much better under favor- 

 able conditions as to moisture than under those the 

 opposite. 'Nevertheless, its growtli lias been satisfac- 

 tory where the rainfall has not exceeded 5 inches. 



