The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-05
A PLANT ron ALKAL1NE SON.
70 The Salt Lake Herald:

To The Salt Lake Herald:
Today ! was shown a plant that was
raised in the black aikali' near
Woods Cross, Davis county. by Mr..
w. II. Smith The plant is eighteen
inches tall with many fine branches,
and bears abundant foliage. The
leaves have a decided saline flavor, and
il would no doubt make a good fodder
plant for alkaline regions. The plant
in question is the Australian saitbush,
and seems TO thrive well on the barren
alkaline soil OF which there are thou
sands of acres in Utah.
Mr. Smith is enthusiastic over the
promise of success from this partial
experiment. He would like the CO.
operation OF several persons. so that
more extensive trial of this plant may
be made. He says he is willing TO buy
$40 or $50 worth of seed if others wiz
help him plant and care for the ground
and crop.
A large part OF the present summer
was spent by the writer at the expert
mental gardens of the University OF
California. They are there carrying on
experiments with several varieties OF
Australian saftbushes, with the view
Of introducing and recommending them
lions of the state Although there are
quite a number of native salthushes
growing in California, yet so far the
Australian varieties seem to be the
more promising. 1t is a well known
fact to naturalists. yet not fully ex-
planned. that an introduced species
often thrives better than native ones
and even in some cases crowds out the
indigenous ones.
Much of my early boyhood days was
spent on an alkaline farm, and | have
long held pet ideas In regard to re-
claiming alkaline soils. IL is my Opin-
ion that many acres OF the Salt Lake
valley that are at present barren on
account of the excess OF saline ingre-
dents. could be made 20 produce
crop IL properly treated. The crop at
first. and. perhaps, for several years,
might be only a fodder crop. but that
wonld be a great advance over the
present condition.
What does it mean to the owner
when a growth of saitbush can be
harvested annually from his alkaline
fiat? Ii means that the plants are ex-
tracing pounds, yes. tons, of saline in
gradients. which are so inimical 10 or
binary forms of vegetation. from the
soil. The salt plants must have the
salt and the alkali. At Berkeley. In
the gardens of the University Of Cal
ifornia. the soil is considered to be en-
tirely free of salt and alkali, yet the
affinity of the Australian saltbush for
the salines is so strong that the foliage
of these plants has a decidedly salty
taste, as / can testify from personal
experiment.
IL a of q
ing the mineral salts from the soil. OF
course. the alkali can be washed from
the soil, il water is plentiful, and there
is proper drainage, but irrigation of
low alkaline flats, as generally prac-
ticed. does more harm than good. Be
sides We have not sufficient water TO
thoroughly wash the soil. and much OF
the alkaline country is unfavorably sit
uated for this method of treatment
Mere experiments in this direction
are required. The seed of the Aus
tralian saitbush is quite expensive
81 or more pound. / belieYe-so this
Item may prevent or retard experiment
tation with this particular plant until
sufficient seed could be raised at home.
But We have several native saltbushes
that may be easily produced and cul-
tivated, and though they may not be
quite so good for the purpose as the |
foreign ones. yet / am quite sure that !
they could be made to answer the pur-
pose. These native salt bushes were |
quite extensively gathered for the |
winter feed OF stock by the early set !
tiers of Salt Lake valley, but since the !
of alfalfa and the cult I
walton of the choicer kinds of hay |
plants. we see no more Of the salt /
bush hay stack. The saline flavor of /
the salt bush hay makes it a palata- |
bic fodder for sheep. cattle. horses and /
mules, and all eat it readily In the |
winter time.
Another point that should not be /
overlooked is the character and situa- 4
ton of much of the alkaline soil in /
these valleys. Generally this soil is
found occupying the lower parts of the
valley and has thus been for ages the |
depository for the aliuvium from the 4
higher lands. Hence. If such tracts can 4
be controlled and brought under eul-
tivation. they will make a deep. rich
and strong soil.
ORSON HOWARD,
Professor of Botany University of
Utah.