136 
taken a fair quantity for trial there, and I hope soon to hear the 
result. 
Epwarp G. ALSTON, 
24th March 1893. 
Memoranda. 
Number of seeds—The number of seeds to a pound when dry is 
about 25,800 gross and 20,000 net (matured). 
Time to sow.— Class of soil.—The seed may be sown at any time 
EE is ping summer «nd autumn months ; is not over particular 
t s of soil, but prefers and grows most luxuriantly on moist 
Hick iad paui: 
Mode of sowing. (a) In the veld.—To sow the seed broadcast in the 
veld is very wasteful and unsatisfactory ; the use of a spade or light hoe 
to lift the soil slightly, and inverting a thorny bush over the spot after 
E is trouble esra repaid. (b) On old lands.—W hen the object in 
view is to make use of old and worthless lands, they should be ploughed 
but not [omen The seed sown in small patches (say 50 yards 
apart), from half-an-inch to an inch deep, and well protected against 
sheep and cattle till the stem of the plant is too hard for them to eat. 
A light mulching of straw or similar material prevents too rapid 
evaporation, and in clay soils the pinching of the tender stem of the 
edling. A fungus, I am told by Professor minces is likely to 
on tilled ground is rapid; hence the advice to s mall patches, a 
foresight which enables the farmer to look after it Tei and use less 
seed and water 
Drought and frost.—' The plant stands drought and a minimum tem- 
perature of 14° as well as the Cape Atriplex. 
Names.—It is an absolute necessity that the Australian salt-bush 
should be called by its proper name Atriplex pge to prevent 
confusion if other salt-bushes are imported from 
an "A tistralian were to apply here for seeds of a Gip alt-bush 
(meaning A. Halimus), he might receive “ Aschbosch," ** Inkbosch," 
* Zout Ganna,” and possibly various kinds of * Kauwgoed.” 
EDWARD G. ALSTON, 
Van Wyk’s Vley 
Carnarvon, Maréh 24, 1993. 
- Professor MacOwan writes in the > Agricultural Journal of Cape 
Colom, y for May 18th, 1893 (p. 180) : 
* [t is impossible to close this A note without calling the attention 
of Cape agriculturists to the fact that they owe this magnificent addition 
to the food resources of their driest districts, ultimately, to the wise 
provision and generous care of Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, the Govern- 
ment Botanist of Victoria, who sent the seeds over here, and repeatedly 
pressed it upon our attention in the most earnest manner. Long since 
we owed to him the Eucalyptus gum trees, springing up by thousands 
where formerly trees were not. ow we are a second time indebted to 
him for a fodder plant, Eas - making its A as fast as did the 
fidis die blue-gum. I hope in remembering Mr. ERA as he 
Fiehly deserves, we shall never eite Sir Tadaa von Mueller 
