82 IVEW SOUTH WALES. 



Mr. W. A. Dixon gives tlie following analysis of tliis plant : — 



Oil 2-18 



Carbohydrates ... ... ... ... ... ... 42"85 



Albuminoids ... ... ... ... ... ... 16'45 



Woody fibre ... ... ... ... ... ... 7'24 



Ash C. 0.2 31-28 



100 00 



Woody parts of plant ... ... ... ... ... 10 per cent. 



Edible 90 per cent. 



Air\])lex semihaccata, E. Br. " Half-berried salt-busli." A prostrate- 

 growing, many-brancliedj slender, perennial plant, witb herbaceous 

 stems spreading" 2 feet or more. It is found in many districts from 

 tlie coast to tlie far interior ; it is mucli more common, bowever, in tbe 

 latter than in the former portion of the Colony. On the stations in the 

 Lachlan and Darling Kiver districts pastoralists hold this plant in 

 high esteem and consider it a most valuable herb for sheep. All 

 herbivora are remarkably fond of the plant, and fatten on it. This 

 salt-bush bears a great amount of seed, which ripens during the 

 summer and autumn months. 



Atriplex, vesicaria, Hew. " Bladder salt-bush.^' An erect, bushy 

 shrub, growing about 2 feet high, and is found on the arid plains in 

 the interior and in some disti-icts very plentifully. It is regarded as 

 an excellent forage plant, and both sheep and cattle thrive well on it, 

 the former particularly so. The " bladder salt-bush " produces a 

 great amount of seed, which ripens during the summer and autumn 

 months. 



Thirteen other sjDecies of Atriplex are found in varying proportions 

 on the pastoral areas of this Colony, and most of them are excellent 

 forage plants. The tender shoots and leaves of a number of them are 

 a good substitute for spinach. 



Chenopodium atriplicimim, Y.xM. '' Atriplex-like goosefoot." A 

 perennial plant branching freely at the base only, the numerous stems 

 usually attaining a height of 1 foot. This plant is peculiar to the 

 arid plains of the interior, and in some districts it is fairly plentiful. 

 It is a capital forage plant, which all herbivora eat with avidity, and 

 pastoralists look upon it as a valuable and nutritious herb at all seasons. 

 It beai's an abundance of seed, Avhich ripens during the summer and 

 autumn months. 



Chcnopodium auricomiim,'h\n({\. A '*■ Blue bush." An erect-grow- 

 ing, perennial plant of from 3 to 5 or more feet high. It is pecu- 

 liar to the inland plaius, though not abundant anyT^•here. This "blue 

 bush " is an excellent forage plant which sheep and cattle are particu- 

 larly fond of, and fatten on. The tender shoots and leaves when 

 cooked make a good table esculent. There are six other species of 

 Chenopodium found in different parts of the Colony, and most of them 

 are good forage plants. All of them bear plenty of seed, which ripens 

 during the summer and autumn months. 



Kochia aphylla,'R.Bv. " Cotton bush." A rigid-branched, scrubby 

 shrub, growing from 2 to 3 feet high, which is found on the western 

 plains, and in some districts it is very plentiful. Its presence is always 

 an indication of good country. The '' cotton bush " will withstand a 



