58 AUSTRALIAN GRASSES AND PASTURE PLANTS 



Salt-Bush as a Fire Break. During my extensive travels 

 in Australia, describing the indigenous and acclimatised 

 vegetation, I have seen several disastrous grass fires in the 

 interior. Where Salt-Bush was fairly abundant the effects 

 of the fires were not nearly as disastrous as where this valuable 

 vegetation was scarce, or had been eaten out by stock. The 

 succulent leaves of the Salt-Bush were only slightly scorched 

 after the fire had passed over the country, and the growth 

 afforded great protection to the more delicate grasses and 

 herbs, which soon begin to grow again if the weather and soil 

 conditions are favourable. It was after making these 

 observations that I advocated the planting of the Old Man 

 Salt-Bush as a fire break, for it is easily cultivated and grows 

 rapidly. A plantation a chain wide or more, and as long as 

 desired, could be formed between two parallel stock-proof 

 fences at comparatively little expense. Such a plantation 

 would answer the double purpose of affording excellent feed for 

 cattle and sheep (the upper growth being judiciously cut for 

 this purpose) and providing a dense growth that would arrest 

 the progress of the fiercest bush fire that menaced homestead 

 and crops. It is not necessary to plough or otherwise work 

 all the land between the fences for the reception of the seeds. 

 All that is required is to pulverise the soil in patches, eighteen 

 inches square, and one foot deep, at intervals of from eight 

 to ten feet, with a strong hand hoe, and thus form a good seed 

 bed, which should be slightly concave on the surface. In 

 the centre of each depression sow half a dozen seeds, preferably 

 in early spring, and leave them covered with about half an 

 inch of fine, light soil. The only attention that is necessary 

 is to keep the weeds and grass in subjection about the young 

 plants, after which they will take care of themselves. Under 

 ordinary conditions Salt-Bush raised in this way will have 

 grown from four to five feet high by autumn. This Australian 

 Salt-Bush is reported to be growing well in India and some of 



