Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-01
Use OF the Camel i'm the south.

Having briefly alluded. some weeks ago, to
the practica bility of using camels 10 advan-
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.. b. NJ. Woolsey. of
Alabama, who had purchased a number of the
animals and was experimenting with them on
his plantation, near Selma. He has courteous
ly replied to our enquiries. and his letter
viii, will be found below will be read with
interest :-SaUh. Rep.
ARTEsA. Near Selma, May %.
Editors Savannah Republican:
Yours of the 18th instant, reached me on
the goth.
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, blowing and carrying burthens to my
entire satisfaction, though | have not been
able to give my personal attention to the
making aud fitting of gear adapted to the pc
culiar form OF the animal. having been engaged
on the Grand Jury, and only home from sun
down to sunrise.
Besides, the long voyages from the Canary
Islands here aud 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, |
will draw with ease one of our two horse
prairie turning plows. l am now breaking
out cotton 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 10 pounds, aud the camel driver
loo pounds, making a burthen of 1902
nI tam
think
The price at which camels can be sold here,
varies, according to the age aud 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. | think they could
soon be taught to eat cotton seed. While at
work feed them upon hay and wheat straw
when at rest they are turned into dry
pasture and they are improving every day in
flesh and spirits. There are now ten in an
old field where mule would starve; luxuri-
ating upon weeds. briars and shrubbery.
Two of these camels will be retained by
me- the others are owned by j. A. Machado,
and tor sale at the above prices for exchange
on Mobile or New Orleans, payable in six
months.
INDUCED MT. MacDbuO 10 DTiup iutsc CAM
els over for the purpose of satisfying myself
if they would answer for plantation pur-
poses. l believe they will, although l have
not yet harnessed them to wagon.
Il am not interested in the sale of them, ex-
cept as a planter, DESTROYS 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.
IL The camel reaches this point, shall feel
amply repaid for the outlay of time, money
and trouble, which am now doing to ascer-
tain il.
In my experiments thus far, il may be
proper TO add, l found the camel awkward of
course but not FESTIVE or unwilling or in
tractable.
In conclusion, let me say. that the above
is the resali ofmy operations W tn 1.-THE ami
NAL Of the Prophet" up to this time. i will
write you again when am better posted.
In the meantime, with the warmest wishes
for your prosperity and happiness, l am,
dear sir, Yours truly.
BENZ. NJ. WooLsEY.