COMPOSTTAE 



often' called Black Bush. It ranges over wide areas in western 

 Texas, southern Hew Mexico and Arizona and adjacent Mexico* The 

 shrub is encouraged 'by overgrazing and now occupies extensive areas 

 which doubtless were formerly in grass. It is worthless as forage 

 and its more or less erect habit does not recommend it for erosion 

 control. This has been used extensively in the past medicinally 

 for every disease practically, to which the human body is subject. 

 It is likely that its use is based on the superstition that the 

 nastiest thing is the best medicine. 



♦Euryops mult i f idus. Euryops is one of our more promising 

 exotics as far as its ability to withstand drought and to seed it- 

 self arc concerned. It is reported to have some value as a sheep 

 browse but our work has thus far not permitted any feeding experi- 

 ments. It lias a habit very similar to many of our rabbit bushes 

 ( Chry s othamnu s s pp . ) . The habit of the plant and its root system 

 do not make it outstanding fcr soil conservation work. If, however, 

 it proves to bo worthwhile as a forage plant it may prove to have 

 a distinct value in the warmer sections of our region. It blooms 

 profusely and atrracts bees in groat numbers. Wo do not have in- 

 formation on the grade of honey produced, 



Tripteris pachypteri s. This is another of our exotics from 

 South Africa, It is very similar in general habit and root growth 

 to Euryops, What applies to Euryops applies equally well to 

 Tripteris. It is reported to be fair sheep forage but we need to 

 conduct feeding experiments to establish its real value. It is 

 blooming almost constantly and is a favorite with bees. Here again 

 we do not know the quality of the honey produced. 



♦Pcntzia incana . Our most outstanding exotic from South 

 Africa of the sheep browse type Is Pentzia. It is lower and more 

 spreading than either Euryops or Tripteris. In fact it forms a dense 

 tangled rooted, mass on the ground. As intimated, it is recommended 

 as a good sheep browse. It was treated at some length in a back 

 number of Soil Conservation by Dr. Franklin J. Crider, Vdiere it 

 becomes established in our warmer regions individual plants sur- 

 vive well. Mr. Pri chard of the Forest Service Nursery at Superior, 

 Arizona, says that it reproduces itself on the desert so sparingly 

 as to make the plant practically valueless. At Shiprock, New 

 Mexico it freezes out where it docs not receive the protection of 

 snow or buildings. It is a plant of such outstanding characteris- 

 tics that it should be given a trial in many places throughout the 

 southwest, including California and Nevada. In any region where it 

 will survive the winters and reproduce itself readily it should 

 prove very valuable. We plan to use it on all the observational 

 plantings we establish in Arizona, 



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