4 BULLETIN 617, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



crop of seed. It is probable that this saltbush has been but recently 

 introduced into the Salinas Valley, which may account for its lack 

 of abundance at present. 



The climatic and other conditions in the coastal region in California 

 seem to be especially favorable to the Australian saltbush, and it is 

 found almost everywhere from Santa Barbara to San Diego. (Fig. 3.) 

 It generally extends inland a distance of 10 to 15 miles, but is found in 

 small quantities at much greater distances. At Highlands, which is 

 about 45 miles from the coast and due east of Los Angeles, it occurs 

 in considerable quantity and is doing well. At Corona, which is 

 about 25 miles from the coast, it is found hi abundance. 



From general observations it would seem that the Australian salt- 

 bush is confined to areas with somewhat favorable soil-moisture 

 conditions. On the extremely dry areas, on the lower levels as well 





Fig. 3. — The Australian saltbush growing along a roadside fence near San Diego, Calif. 



as at higher elevations, it is not found. Along the immediate coast 

 in the fog belt it does extremely well, which apparently is due to the 

 fact that the fog supplies the moisture essential to its growth. 

 While the present distribution of this saltbush is confined almost 

 exclusively to the lower altitudes, it occurs in small quantity at an 

 altitude of 1,800 feet near Alpine, Calif., and at 1,400 feet near 

 Ramona, Calif. It is probable that temperature and moisture condi- 

 tions rather than altitude determine the limits of growth of this plant; 

 however, observations on this point are very limited. 



In the upper San Joaquin Valley the Australian saltbush occurs in 

 abundance, but its distribution in this region is confined to irrigated 

 or semi-irrigated lands. For some miles west of Bakersfield and extend- 

 ing northwest of Wasco and east to Famosa it is found in practically 



