The Australian Saltbush. 15 
even make agood crop with less than five inches of rainfall. * Second, 
that stock will eat it or readily learn to eat it either green or as hay. 
Third, that it will produce very heavily under favorable conditions. 
Fourth, that it will, when fed alone, maintain the animals, and even 
better results are claimed for it. Fifth, that the hay is rich in pro¬ 
tein, as rich or even richer than alfalfa. Sixth, that its coefficients 
of digestion are excellent, except for the fat or ether extract and 
crude fibre. Seventh, that it has no injurious effects on the animals 
even when they have no other fodder with it. 
The following facts, however, remain, that it has not become 
popular, and that when fed alone it does not produce the results 
that its composition and coefficients of digestion would seem to 
warrant us in expecting. There is no reason for questioning the 
advisability of feeding something relatively richer in carbohydrates 
along with it, if they are at hand, but if they are not stock will live 
on this fodder alone. 
RUSSIAN thistle. 
On a preceding page reference was made to the use of this 
plant as a fodder. No one in any irrigated section would think of 
growing either the saltbush or thistle for forage. Press Bulletin 5 
of this Station, by J. E. Payne, reprinted as part of Bulletin 64 , re¬ 
ports the use of the Russian thistle in sections where other fodder 
cannot be raised readily. Some men report that it makes a good 
fodder, but other men of good judgment who have had experience 
in feeding this hay do not confirm the claim. Payne views it as an 
emergency forage. One man told me that he had tried it, feeding 
forty head of cattle, with very unsatisfactory results, and that many 
of his cattle died. As it is used to some extent in sections where 
there is no other available forage plant, or better where the supply 
of other and better plants is insufficient, I have studied the plant to 
a limited extent. There are only a few analyses of this fodder 
available. The following will serve to show the composition of the 
plant at various stages in its development: 
ANALYSES OR THE RUSSIAN THISTLE. 
N-Free 
Moisture. Ash. Pat. Protein. Fibre. Extract. 
Cut June 12 * . 22.01 2.20 18.46 17.94 39.39 
Cut June 26 . 18.79 1.84 17.72 23.19 38.46 
Cut July 12. 14.30 1.14 9.11 30.82 44.63 
Small and tenderf. 20.32 3.91 17.78 16.27 41.72 
No thorns. 21.21 3.18 14.71 22.45 38.45 
Thorns out . 18.25 2.97 13.45 21.62 43.71 
Ripe . 13.75 3.77 12.34 37.70 32.44 
♦California Bulletin 105. 
♦Iowa Bui. 26, p. 28, three samples cut June 12, 26, and July 12. 
tReport Minnesota Exp. Sta. 1894, p. 35, four samples also Bui. 30. 
