of Wcstei'n Afghanistan and Korth-Eastem Persia. 101 



can be grown as a second crop. It is usually considered as 

 too valuable to be ordinarily cut down and given as a 

 green fodder to cattle. The crushed straw after the removal 

 of the grain is stacked as a winter fodder. 



Near Maimana the huskless variety is cultivated, called 

 jao-makal, or the barley from Mecca ; it is, however, not a very 

 common gxain. 



Hordeum ithaburense, Boiss. Gramixe^. 



The barley of the desert. This grass by the nomads is looked 

 upon as wild barley, and goes by the name jao-dashtl ; it 

 resembles in its habit the growth of barley so closely, that 

 the natives believe it to be so. It is found occurring through- 

 out the Badghis, forming a portion of the vegetation on the 

 rolling downs, usually growing in isolated clumps to a height 

 of nearly three feet, these clumps look as if patches of the 

 country had come under cultivation. 



Hordeum vulgare, Linn. Gramine^. 



The harsh or bitter barley, jao-tursli. This barley is 

 considered too harsh to the taste and too heating for the blood 

 to allow of its being employed in food. It is therefore culti- 

 vated solely to be given to cattle ; usually the crop is cut 

 green, and this mixed with the crushed straws makes the latter 

 more palatable. All green-cut fodder, whether of wheat or 

 any barley, is ordinarily called tursh or trush, the name for 

 this barley having spread to any corn cut in a green state. 

 This is one of the few grains that can be looked upon as ever 

 being grown as a second crop, as it ripens in three months ; 

 except as a fodder for cattle this barley is always spoken of 

 with great contempt. 



Horse — asp. 



In Afghanistan the horse is primarily employed for the 

 conveyance of man, and nextly for all field work, such as 

 ploughing, and conveying in the harvest. For carrying heavy 

 loads for long distances camels are employed. At Karaol- 

 khana, Marachak, and Ab-i-goshan in February 1885 we saw 

 numerous pairs of horses ploughing and preparing the land 

 for a wheat crop. For conveying goods in these parts they 

 have a long-bodied stumpy horse, not quite a pony, which is 



