Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-06-15
it's columns to the statement here set forth,
and even should our people fail to sustain it
at tho cost of a few dollars from their treasury.
A. Fl. BRISBANE.
From the Savannah Republican.

=. /.
Having briefly alluded, some weeks ago, to
the practicability of using camels TO an ad.
vantage in the various departments of labor
now occupied by the horse, mule and OK, we
felt somewhat interested in the subject, and
addressed letter to Mr.. Benz. N. Woolsey, Of
Ala, who had purchased number of the ami.
mails and was experimenting with them on
his plantation, near Selma. He has courteous.
ly replied to our enquiries, and his letter,
which will be found below, will be read with
interest: '
ARrEsA, Near Selma, May %.
Editor Sauannah Republican: ' So
Yours of 18th inst, reached here onthe 10th.
In reply, generally, the camels have proved
equal to all the demands made upon them.
They have been on my plantation for the past
week, plowing and carrying burthens to my
entire satisfaction, tho I have not been able
to give my personal attention to the making
and fitting of gearadapted to tie peculiar form
Of the animal, having been engaged on the
Grand Jury, and only at home from sun down.
to sun rise.
Besides, the long voyage from the Canary
Islands here and improper feeding since their
arrival, have reduced the camels very much
so that they are really too poor to work. With,
more flesh and proper fitting harness, II hazard
nothing in saying that grown camel will
draw with ease, one of our two horse prairie
turning plows. I am now breaking out cot
ton middles with winged sweep Of "a inches
from wing to wing-the camel poor and with
two years Of growth before him. -.
On Tuesday last sent twelve bushels of
corn to Selma to be ground, on the same
camel. The corn was placed upon saddle,
weighing $50 lbs, and the camel driver 160
lbs., making burthen of ] ,002 lbs-a very good
mill wagon and team, I think.
The price at which camels can be sold here,
varies, according to the age and size. The
extremes are $50 and $3.50.
The camel will eat almost anything that the
goat does not refuse. They are fed in the.
Canary Islands on barley straw and barley
chaff, and occasionally, but very seldom, bar.
ley meal is given them. I think they could
soon be taug ght to eat cotton seed. While at
work feed them upon hay and wheat straw
when at rest they are turned into q dry
pasture, and they are improving every day in
flesh and spirits. There are now ten in an
old field where mule would starve; luxuria.
ting upon the weeds, briars and shrubbery.
Two of these camels will be retained by me,
the others arc owned by J. A. Machsdo, and
for sale at the above prices for exchange on
Mobileor New Orleans, payable in six months. :,
induced Mr.. Machado to bring these cam.
els over for the purpose of satisfying myself If
they would answer for plantation purposes.
I believe they will, although I have mot yet
harnessed them to a wagon '.'
i am not interested in the sale of them, ex.F
cept as planter, desirous of checking the
immense draught upon our cotton for mules,
by substituting procreating animal Of more
power and greater longevity, and which re.
quires less expensive food to keep in working:
condition. - - y"
Ifthe camel reaches this point, I shall feel
amply repaid for the outlay of time, money
aud trouble, which I am now doing to ascer.
tain it. a. >"
In my experiments thus far, it may be :
proper to add, I found the camel awkward of
course, but not restive or unwilly Or untrac. =
table.
In conclusion, let me say, that the above is
the result of my operations with "the animal
Of the Prophet" up to this time. will write
you again when am better posted.
in the meantime, with the warmest wishes
Cor your prosperity and happiness am, dear
sir, Yours truly,
Benz. N. WooLsEY.