AUSTRALIAN SALTBUSH. 7 
SOIL REQUIREMENTS. 
While the Australian saltbush has been noted as growing on prac- 
tically all types of soil, it occurs in but few regions where the soil does 
not contain a greater or less amount of alkali. Table II presents the 
analysis of various soils in which it was found growing. It is to be 
noted that the salt content ranges from nothing to 2.61 per cent of 
the dry weight. This saltbush is quite tolerant of alkali, and will 
thrive in soils that will grow but very few ordinary crops. 
DROUGHT RESISTANCE. 
The Australian saltbush is quite drought resistant, but apparently 
not to the extent of some other species of Atriplex and many desert 
plants. Table II gives the moisture content for the summer or 
rainless season of various soils at San Diego, Calif., in which salt- 
bushes were well established. The minimum moisture content was 
1.51 per cent for the first 6 inches of soil and 1.75 per cent for the 
first 12 inches. In soils with such low moisture content the plant 
apparently can make no growth, but the fact that it exists under 
such conditions and resumes growth when favorable conditions pre- 
vail entitles it to be designated as drought resistant. 
TaBLeE I1.—Sodium-chlorid content of the Australian saltbush and of the soil in California 
in which it was found growing. 
[Analyses made by J. F. Breazeale; soil samples taken at San Diego, Calif., Aug. 23 and Sept. 4, 1918. ] 
if 
Es NaCl content 
Soil sample. 
Soil (per cent). 
l mois- 
. x ture 
| Weight (gramr). (per = 
No. Location. Eger ieee cent) Soil. SSE 
| Initial. | Dry. | 
Le e0icebiRonmnighstide- 2 -— eS Rec we ears See tees . Sere | Spas SS 0. 104 7. 01 
2520 feet trem-edve ofsalt flat... ,.- 222-3222. Ieee pease ae [Ore eee |  . 085 8.17 
Sel oalG Hataeaee OFSEENAGG. =. 8.25 22 cet eke Leow pte Sees ep (2 228s 8.17 
4 | Edge of bay, moistened at high tide................-- porters 2 ares ee ae eared PART 16. 34 
5 | Mesa, near Sweetwater dam (first 6 inches ofsoil)....| 269.0 265.0 1251 . 030 8. 40 
Ga SLEVCe roel ADOVesWwALCENOVele: oe Se ews ae ee SS eae ee - 047 13. 05 
Depression by levee, moist and alkaline: 
7 ING) PSO, G5 oe 2 peo gee ee Ae I Oe er anes pe aa eae ll gE ere ee ane eee feast shtO 15. 66 
8 SEBS 0) Fis ee ee AER OD. Ss bevy § Ses og eee ee lise ea KDE See PS 
Galswalislabarlitticahove waver level. 15 /25—. 2224222] oie. sc. 5- [ene sete beak 2. 610 23. 20 
fOsICh TR ysolsnear Raniona=. = e5~- 9 5)2 > See. 2S ee li 26708 262. 5 1.75 . 020 4, 64 
Dry gravelly ridge, at Chula Vista: 
li EHTESUH OOGSP ec ee ene ee nies eee SEs i 620050 237.3 5. 65 0 8.70 
12 DCEOHEH OD ie ee eee se ee ee 297. 1 PHP RIL QO. 19S Sates ee oe 
13 hie 1O0G.(GANCHCS) sa _ 522 sss aoe ese e STS. = ee TOTES 176.0 8280: Ss s3c52 | LSae ee 
Dry level spot not cultivated for 3 years: — 
ys SSE Tay eo Se | 3505 6:1 230: bilks aaa | ce ee een 
15 SECOHGHOOt=ee- =e San ee ene ee 312.3 293. 0 Gjb8eleessese = |e SoS: 
16 PUTT! AE Tee es Se a eae eee | 306.8 330. 0 SAD ESS |eee eee 
REST LET GSEs 4 SR SS eS eee ee Rae RRZEE Aer) Snake eas ere ses 2 | - 06 . 87 
In the extremely dry areas where the annual precipitation is low and 
the surface soils usually dry, as in the Bakersfield and Mojave regions, 
the Australian saltbush does not occur. However, in these regions 
