Veer, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 255. 
wsteta, 4 plant which is so easily propagated that there is no reason why this 
ane Should not be grown in large areas. The smallest cutting will grow. 
itis ‘@aphylla : Pastoralists who have had experience with this plant say that 
Peters: of the very best of saltbushes. Mr. Valder further remarks that the 
contai idea seemed to be that saltbush will not thrive in any soils except those 
had iting a heavy percentage of salt, but, so far, the trials at Wagga W agga 
hag woved the opposite, as several of the species, after two or three cuttings, 
stown stronger than ever. 
wig John Duff, Inspector of Forests, supplies the following information 
ri Tespect to the cultivation of saltbush, which we reproduce from the 
cultural Gazette of New South Wales :— 
Sf Plantations of saltbush 1 chain wide would contain seven rows of plants 
| voulg ‘part, leaving 5 feet between the two outer rows and the fences, and this 
of the Ree an average of forty-nine plants to the square chain. In the autumn 
_ | ota ust year of planting, the saltbush cuttings would have grown to a height 
= throws ® feet, and might then be clipped with hedge shears and the clippings 
en itn te the fences to the stock. At the end of the first year the plants. 
| teen j © layered, an operation easily performed by forming a drill about 4 inches 
| ag ag the soil for each branch, pegging them down in the drills and covering. 
= The “h of the branches as possible with soil, leaving their tops above ground. 
= | Ne ee root readily, and in a few months could be cut off, dug up, and 
Mm new enclosures. 
itig is Preserve the saltbush from destruction and prevent its total extinction, 
volt, Solutely necessary to grow it in enclosed plantations, only cutting the 
iugr, shoots off the plants for fodder during period of drought (which does not 
| toke Usly affect the saltbush), when grass and other herbage are insufficient 
7 7 the stock alive. tina 
| Woo ae well known to pastoralists that the saltbush, which is a very brittle- 
and aly Plant, is quickly destroyed by being broken, eaten down too closely, 
| ting young shoots eaten off as they appear, so that the necessity for growing ° 
Bs Hocker ores will be obvious ; and it is no exaggeration to state that on all 
} _,,_ ns whereon the saltbush grew it is now almost extinct. 
| Proved” Producing the best qualities of beet, mutton, and wool, it has been 
; that no other fodder plants or grasses equal the saltbush. The 
gency of enclosed plantations, saving of stock, and keeping the animals 
tenfolq pencition during periods of drought would compensate pastoralists | 
' lllevints ot the outlay in forming these plantations, and would be the means of 
i. 4tng much distress and suffering to pastoralists and stock. 
1} hin Sowing seeds of the saltbush on alkali soil, it is advisable not to cover 
 Abong Feacely “firm” it into the soil; on arid uplands a slight covering of. 
mE Se 
=4 
wees 
} } Year.o) Tecighth of an inch of soilis necessary. Germination tests of three- 
Fi Jilifon ccd were made in 1897 by Mr. G. H. Wright, of the University of 
= nal and the results plainly showed the advantage of slightly covering in 
B | Whig “i soils. In the following table are shown results of germination tests 
Dut i om to show that a covering in ordinary non-aikali soils is an advantage, 
Must evidently be slight :-— 
tn AD 
SIT Date of Germination. Percentage of Healthy Plants. 
9th August... er ... | 70 per cent. 
fees UN Oe org, ax ee rvs Do yyy 
seni pMaay cy; ae ay pred) CU retry 
woth, Ay. i Pah s20 ary, 
16th ,, hat peddle Pag 30 tas 85 
Nother test, respecting the amount of moisture best applied, showed that. 
i an on the surface and watered every day germinated 75 per cent.; 
tha Paty, sown, but watered every third day, germinated 88 per cent. ; seed 
48 not watered till the fifth day failed to germinate. 
yy 
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