J4 . CoivORADo Ekpe:rime:nt Station. 
The most striking differences are shown in the chlorin content. 
The California sample shows that almost one-fourth of the ash 
is represented by chlorin, while our sample, grown upon good, 
upland v->oi], considered free from alkali, shows that this element—■ 
chlorin—makes up only one-sixteenth of the ash. Again, the 
California sample shows three times as much soda as potash, while 
our upland sample shows more potash than soda. It is further 
clear at a glance that our sample grown on alkali soil approaches 
much more nearly to the composition of the California sample. 
The plant takes up under the conditions of alkali 
soils a large amount of salt. The data given in the 
California bulletin show that it takes up, in round num¬ 
bers, 800 pounds of salt, sodic chlorid, in producing five tons 
of hay. Our data show that it used about 600 when grown on 
alkali soil and only 163 pounds when grown on good, non-alkali 
soil. This hay, with its large percentage of ash, does not seem to 
be detrimental to animals, but it is an entirely open question 
whether the large amount of salt may not be a necessary condition 
for the perfect development of the plant. 
The object of this bulletin is to present the facts concerning 
this plant so far as they are known for the consideration of our 
ranchmen, who need a forage plant which will produce from a 
fair to a good yield of reasonably good hay with but little rainfall. 
This plant seems to promise to fulfill all of these requirements. 
Though the California Station experimented with saltbushes for 
eighteen years and unreservedly recommended this one, the A. semi- 
haccata, as the most promising one, and the Department of Agricul¬ 
ture at Washington distributed, if I am no mistaken, seeds of this 
plant. Director Wickson writes me that “the acreage in California 
is exceedingly small, probably not more than a small fraction of 
one per cent, of the amount which was contemplated.” There may 
possibly be found an explanation for this failure of the plant to 
come into the popularity that its free growth and good composition 
seems to entitle it. They may have some other fodder which sup¬ 
plies their needs and is of easier culture, or easier to handle, but in 
those sections of our State which are of late years filling up with 
settlers and where the older inhabitants have had to have recourse 
to the Russian thistle, the coarse sand grass of the plains, or to the 
native saltbushes, this plant is worthy of a trial. It will not grow 
without any care. Even the native saltbushes are not always 
abundant, and this one will probably be no different except it re¬ 
ceives intelligent planting and some nursing. 
The following facts seem to have been established concerning 
this plant: First, when once established it will endure drought and 
