138 
bear a great amount of drou ght, and if not too closely fed down 
produces seed in abundance,” Seeds of this were distributed from Kew 
in May 1895. 
Atriplex semibaccata, R. ag tems herbaceous, procumbent or 
erre spreading to 1 or 2 feet. Queensland to West Australia. 
Mueller says :—-“ Very much liked b sheep, and considered among the 
best of saline herbage of the salt-bush country, Mr. Farrer pronounces 
this herb to be wonderful for its productiveness and its drought-resisting 
power.” 
This plant has proved most valuable in some of * the worst aikali 
spots " in California, single plants bes ing reached a diameter of 16 feet 
in ene season, “ The yield of a crop is about 20 tons of green 
material, or oaloujating on a basis of 75 per cent. water, 5 tons of dry 
matter per acre, A good season would permit of "m such erops. 
A further note ( Report of. A Agrientewral Experiment Stations, 1894- 
95, p. 320) states :—“ It seems to be already dnd EM that this 
Australian species of di abe. will constitute itself a most important 
industrial — A this State, and will render un vast tracts of 
land which are at present a blot on the landscape. These tracts 
can be covered with salt-bush, and the resulting forage will aid greatly 
in maintaining domestic animals," The following chemical investigation 
of the fresh plant as grown in California has been made by Mr, M. E. 
Jaffa :— 
Proximate analysis of the Australian meme CAirrplee-* semi- 
baccata) compared with some green fodders 
| 
— | Salt-bush. | Alfalfa. Flat pea.* | Oat fodder. 
Water - - - - 78°03 74°95 63°48 62-90 
Organic matter - — - 17:39 23°38 33°34 35°30 
Mineral matter (ash) - 4°58 1:67 3:18 2:50 
Totals - - 100:00 100°00 100°00 100' 00 
The coin further account is taken from a Bulletin issued by the 
Agricultura Ex xperimental Station of the University of California 
. issued in Ne ovember UP 
* Atriplex semibaccaia.—The past year's experience with this plant, 
both on the University saad ground at Tulare and on the lands of 
scores of those furnished with seed or plants, shows that E plant has 
peerless TP for f hann on soils too aes to support any other 
useful growth. So strongly are owners of alkali lands i sot a 
this fact that keter of acres will be sown this itat nthusiastic 
correspondents write that the trial and announcement of the suitability 
of this plant are worth more to California than all the money the 
University Experiment Stations have cost from their d The 
policy of trial and distribution of econom plants. "hs letin No. "ios, 
which will be mailed to all applicants, rn Pu of the g rowth 
of a plant, hints for its culture, and investigations into its food value. 
. Small plants set in alkali spots have attained a thick. matted mii 
3 ae is ooo o Lathyrus sylvestris, > 
