350 CHAPTER XXI 



Useful Stock Food Plants for Arid Parts. — A great 

 many trees and shrubs owe their drought-resistance to their 

 extensive and deep root development, which enables them to 

 obtain moisture beyond the reach of shallow-rooted crops. If 

 widely spaced, such trees will thrive under conditions too severe 

 for ordinary crops. Some of the tiuest olive plantations in 

 Algeria flourish on a rainfall of less than 10 inches per annum, 

 largely because the olive is deep rooted and the trees are widely 

 spaced. 



Plowever, there are plants, indigenous and exotic, which 

 with a very small outlay on labour might be found to give suffi- 

 cient fodder to warrant their propagation on an extensive scale. 

 The following are the chief ones which have already been tried 

 in some of the driest parts of South Africa and have been found 

 useful as stock food, viz. : — 



Old Man Saltbush {Atriplex nummular ia) . — An erect per- 

 ennial shrub, reaching a height of 5 to 8 feet in four years. It 

 is an introduction from Australia, is readily eaten by sheep, and 

 its propagation by cutting or seed is comparatively easy. Its 

 cultivation in various parts of the country is becoming more 

 and more popular, particularly in the western portion of the 

 Orange Free State and in the Karroo, where it has been found 

 to be extremely drought-resistant. 



Creeping Saltbush {Atriplex semihaccata). — Also intro- 

 duced from Australia. It is a very decumbent, perennial 

 shrub, easily propagated by simply sowing the seed on the land, 

 followed by light harrows. Once established, it seeds abun- 

 dantly, young seedlings being produced among the old plants. 

 With careful grazing this species maintains itself with little or 

 no extra care. It gives an abundant, succulent and palatable 

 fodder for sheep and cattle, and is probably quite as drought- 

 resistant as A. nummularia . 



Both of these varieties of saltbush are very tolerant of 

 alkali, an important feature, since large areas of our arid soils 

 are " brakish." 



Spineless cactus (Opuntia spp.). — Peretfnials introduced 

 chiefly from Mexico. These are being distj-ibuted by the Agri- 

 cultural Department, the demand increasing rapidly each year, 

 particularly in the Karroo. Propagation is easy, " leaves " 

 being either planted or simply placed on the ground in situ. 

 Their cultivation in Texas, Australia and elsewhere is becom- 

 ing quite general. The nutritive value is comparatively low. 



