158 THE CAMEL 



avoid barley if you possibly can, unless it happens that 

 the camels have been bred on it. Should the pasturage 

 be really suitable and plentiful it is infinitely preferable 

 to graze them only than to feed them on rations ; but 

 never graze them for less than six hours, and the more 

 over that you can the better. In this case, unless the 

 work is heavy and continuous, grain is unnecessary. 

 In addition, six hours at least for rest and to enable 

 them to chew the cud is also, I consider, most neces- 

 sary in order to keep camels in really good condition. 

 If there is no grazing and no grain, at least 70 Ib. of 

 chopped straw should be given daily, or with 4 Ib. of 

 grain from 50 to 60 Ib. of straw, and with 6 Ib. of grain 

 40 to 50 Ib. of straw ; for do not lose sight of the fact 

 that, though grain is productive of muscle and stamina, 

 a bulk of a less nutritious food is requisite to assist the 

 grain in acquiring the desired effect, and without it 

 the camel cannot keep in condition. It is advisable, 

 especially when feeding camels on dry rations, to mix 

 a little salt with the grain or straw the former for 

 choice 3 oz. three times a week, or, better still, about 

 11 to 2 oz. a day is the correct thing, and crushed 

 rock salt is the best. As I have remarked, they 

 will drink saline water, and when in want of salt 

 it forms a substitute ; but I am sure it is not so good 

 for them as salt, and does not quite answer the same 

 purpose, which, besides imparting a relish to the food 

 and a tone to the system, assists the juices and fluids 

 in accomplishing the work of digestion. 

 Some of If fed on dry or saline food, the camel naturally 



the differ- J 



ent trees, requires more water ; vice versa, when he is getting 



grasses, leaves and other green fodder which contain a certain 

 to. 



