METHODS 



A survey of literature, particularly of pertinent keys and monographs, was made 

 ahead of intensive selection and breeding trials. In addition, field observations were 

 made during the 1967 and subsequent growing seasons on floral and vegetative character- 

 istics of the shrubs. Collections were made of most species in various stages of 

 development for illustrative purposes. IvTiere no data were available on the number of 

 seeds per pound, the number was determined on the basis of 10 samples of 100 seeds each. 



Artificial hybridization was attempted by treating pistillate bushes of Atvivlex 

 canescens with pollen from various species of Atriplex, Grayi-a, Ceravoides tanata^ and 

 Saraobatus vermiculatus (fig. 1) . These crosses were made to determine any major diffi- 

 culties in interspecific hybridization within and between these closely related genera. 

 Information regarding these crosses is presented in the following resumes for the 

 species with which hybridization was performed. 



Germination tests were conducted to determine viability of the seed produced from 

 the crosses. For these tests, the seeds were placed on moistened newspapers or paper 

 towels, which were then folded in half (fig. 2). The folded papers were covered by 

 plastic sheets and placed in refrigerators maintained at temperatures between 1° and 

 3° C. Seeds that sprouted were transplanted to pint milk cartons and placed in green- 

 houses to develop (fig. 3). 



Seedlings obtained from various crosses since 1968 were transplanted during the 

 latter part of May 1971 at the Snow Field Station north of Ephraim, Utah. 



Figure 1. — Pistillate 

 fourwing saltbush 

 (Atriplex canescens) 

 with bagged branches 

 treated with pollen 

 from different species 

 of Atriplex. The same 

 procedure was used 

 when treating fourwing 

 saltbush with pollen 

 from Grayia, Ceratoides, 

 and Sarcobatus. 



2 



