AUSTRALIAN SALTBUSH. 3 
perennials, but under some conditions they live but two or three 
years. Near Paso Robles, Calif., where they have been grown under 
cultivation, the growth is strong and vigorous the first year, becomes 
much weakened in the second year, and after that the plants soon 
succumb. (Fig. 2.) In this particular locality this saltbush has not 
become aggressive, and while a few plants have escaped from cultiva- 
tion, they are weak and spindling and do not show the usual vigor 
of plants under cultivation the first year. While there are no definite 
Fic. 2.—The Australian saltbush grown under cultivation in a young apple orchard at Paso Robles, Calif. 
records as to the length of life of these plants in favorable regions, 
such as Los Angeles and San Diego, from general appearances it 
would seem that they live for a number of years. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
The Australian saltbush has become naturalized, that is, fully 
established, only in California and Arizona. In California it is con- 
fined to the coastal region south of San Francisco and to the irrigated 
districts of the Imperial Valley and the upper San Joaquin Valley, 
centering about Tulare and Bakersfield. In Arizona it is found in 
the agricultural areas of the Salt River Valley about Phoenix, in the 
Santa Cruz Valley about Tucson, and in the Yuma Valley near 
Yuma. The northern limit where this saltbush has been observed 
is Hollister, Calif., about 100 miles south of San Francisco. In this 
district it occurs in small quantity, and while it makes a very luxu- 
riant growth it does not develop seed in such abundance as farther 
south. In the Salinas Valley, Calif., it is found all the way from 
Salinas to some distance beyond Soledad. It is not abundant in this 
valley, but the plants make a vigorous growth and develop a heavy 
