135 
own preference for the stranger is caused by the larger ining 
of food produced in a given time, its capability for seeding profusely for 
nine months out of the twelve, and the ease with which it can be raised. 
At Van Wyk’s Vley the following animals feed on it in preference to 
our native Atriplex :— Cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, fowls, 
and even ants! It is € possible that the reason may lie in s ability 
f A. Halimus to absorb more saline matter from the than its 
cousins, and if so it is primd facie an argument in favour “of the Cape 
plant being sown in preference to the Australian, where there is but 
little salt in the soil. 
The drawback to the Cape variety is by small number of fertile seeds 
it susie ps ean and » py: to find out the defensive habit its cousins 
hav uired to kee soil cool d moist for the seedlings by 
pp over mom t i. mulching of withered leaves and “sced. 
Apparently A. Halimus is more particular in the choice of soil than 
those now posa pes, but on this point I should like more IONS 
During dr wan e known cattle, horses, and sheep to browse and 
thrive upon these coe alien fodder-plants, a most decided Sé nce 
being given to them, although the surrounding ground was covered with 
other species of salt ‘bushes 
n September 1889, I left for Parijs, in the. Orange Free State, and 
jock some of the seed w ith me. Each farmer on the route, vid 
Town, Kimberley, Boshof, Bultľontein, eT I Vredefort 2 
Parijs, received a small quantity to try; parcels were also sent to the 
Government Secretaries of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, 
and various editors of newspapers, 
The result was gratifying, for in a few months my father wrote to 
say that he had received quite a shoal of applications from the various 
districts I had passed throug 
Up to this time we had Wie supplying seeds by post, ls. per pound 
which included cost of collection, bag and postage: at 3s. 6d. per grain 
bag a d 23s. 3d. per woolpack (say 150lbs.), and the same price 
obtains 
The Agri prog lien Department lied witl titi leo 
and I believe many farmers drew from that source, while others were 
referred to us for larger parcels. The publication of a letter 1 wrote to 
the Department in the Agricultural Journal led to an immediate 
increase in the demand. I "ait pleased to say that His Honour Presi- 
dent Reitz of the Orange Free State interested himself and his Govern- 
ment in distributing the seed to such an extent that I had the pleasure 
of forwarding four "woolpaeks full to his government between January 
1892 aud Januar 1893. On inquiry I am informed by the Govern- 
ment red that the seeds grew well, but that the locusts had done 
a great deal of damage during the past season (presumably to the young 
ants). 
. a Geoff, St. Hilaire, Directeur du Jardin Zoologique d ' Acelima- 
tati sper also applied for a supply of A. Halimus, which he pro- 
Mage. in the southern portion of Algiers, We - t him 
apt in order to provide an - of ee Mr. ays ne d 
