127 



with close white cotton. It is found in sandy and muddy wastes, 

 generally near the sea, and occupies larue tracts of .nun try bordering 

 the Caspian and Black Seas. It extend round t h « • Mediterranean to 

 Western Europe, and, as already stated, it is found in the Western 

 Himalayas. It is also abundant in Western Tibet in salt plains at 

 elevations of about 9,000 to 14,000 feet. 



Mr. Outbie finds that ponies feed upon this plant in the Himalayas 

 " with relish," and he adds that "other species of Artemisia ore 

 " mentioned as affording good fodder for sheep on the Punjab 

 '• Himalaya." In localities where hardly any other vegetation e\i ts, 

 the use of the wormwood as a fodder-plant might prove of value. A 

 bundle of dry loal\ branches <.f Ir/rmisia maritima was received at 

 Kew from Mr. Duthie, and Professor A. H. Church, F.R.S., was good 

 enough to undertake an analysis, in order to determine its nutritive 

 properties. The results of Professor Church's investigations are con- 

 tained in a memorandum reproduced below. It, appears that the 



as ordinary mixed grasses. It is, however, thrice as rich in albuminoids 

 as the straw of European cereals, and to any animals not deterred from 

 eating the plant by its somewhat sickly odour, it might prove under 

 special circumstances, >ueh as those w Inch obtain in barren tracts and 

 passes in the Western Hi able value. 



Punjab Himalaya. It would be satisfactory to have some sort of 



doiii'md loi I". Id r o : m k ml along portions of the Gilgit route is at 

 present very urgent, owing to the large number of baggage animals 

 employed in carrying stores of all sorts to Gilgit. 



I hope we shall soon have a chemical analyst for India, but in the 

 meantime, if you could help to obtain for me the- information required 

 regarding thc"abovc-inentioned plant. I shall be very much obliged. 



(Signed) ' J.'f. Duthie, 



Report by Professok A. II. Church, F.R.S. 

 Artemisia maritima, L— Collected near Aster, North Kashmir, 



