248 FORAGE CROPS. 



able conditions, it should therefore prove of much 

 value in providing forage and fodder in very con- 

 siderable areas of the western and southwestern 

 states. 



The species of saltbush under discussion is 

 spreading and drooping rather than erect in its habit 

 of growth. The stems branch out very numerously 

 from the crown, and branchlets covered with long 

 narrow shaped leaves multiply on them in a marked 

 degree. The outer stems, therefore, are fine and 

 very numerous, but toward the base the larger stems 

 become more or less woody (Fig. 24). The plants 

 bear no little resemblance to the Russian thistle at 

 various stages of their growth. The habit of root 

 growth is much dependent on the character of the 

 soil. In suitable soil the tendrils are numerous. 

 They spread out not very far below the surface and 

 throw down numerous rootlets into the subsoil 

 below. On hardpan, however, they send a taproot 

 far down, with but few rootlets on it. 



Australian saltbush has already been tried with 

 more or less of success in various counties of Cali- 

 fornia, as described in Bulletin No. 12 5, issued by the 

 experiment station of that state. The same is true 

 of the more limited experiments conducted in Utah, 

 Washington, Nebraska and various places in Texas 

 and New Mexico. 



Where semi-arid conditions prevail is unques- 

 tionably the place for this plant, and more especially 

 on lands so impregnated with alkali as to practically 

 forbid the successful growth of more valuable food 

 products in the absence of irrigation. It may, 

 therefore, have an important mission for many sec- 

 tions of the United States eastward from tb^ Missis- 



