398 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



December 11, 1909. 



TEXT BOOK OF EGYPT I AX AdRIGULTURE, 

 Vol. I. Edited by G. W Foaden, B.Sc., and F. Fletcher, 

 M A., B.Sc. Fublixhed hit tin: Ministry of Education, E;/i/pt. 



In writing this book, the plan has been to make each of 

 several writers responsible for a certain part of it. The eti'ect 

 has been to render its position authoritative, and to add to its 

 value, but a certain amount of confusion is caused during its 

 perusal by the difference of manner of treatment in the 

 various parts, and there is a degree of repetition which it 

 would have been better to avoid. 



The volume includes eight chapters. Of the.se, the 

 first three deal with the atmosphere and the soil in relation 

 10 agriculture, and with cultivation. Chapter IV has for its 

 subject farm implements of cultivation and harvesting, while 

 Chapters V and VI are devoted to irrigation and drainage 

 and the farm implements of irrigation. Land reclamation is 

 treated of in .an interesting manner in Chapter VII. Finally, 

 Chapter VIII has special reference to the important topic 

 of manures. 



At the beginning of this volume, the contents of 

 Volume II are tabulated. These will be chiefly concerned 

 with the cultivation of crops and their diseases and insect 

 pests, and with the uianagement of farm animals, and 

 dairying. 



Dealing with the chapters of the published volume, in 

 order, it is necessary to confess that the perusal of the first 

 three commences with a bewilderment which only increases 

 as progress through them is continued. Fact after fact is 

 presented to the mind in a breathless manner, which can 

 only serve to confuse the student of agriculture, even 

 though be may not be a beginner in that subject. 

 There is little quarrel to be had with the value of the facts 

 themselves, but it would seem that tlir presentation of a few 

 well-illustrated principles would have been preferable to that 

 of a large number of, often disjointed, actualities. Among 

 minor imperfections may be mentioned the refertMice, on 

 page 17, to an Appendix which cannot be found; the doubt 

 of the correctness oj the explanation concerning plants that 

 have been 'laid', on p. 19; the absence of description or 

 definition in the case of several things for which Egyptian 

 names, alone, are given; a looseness of style and expression 

 which occurs contiuuallj'.. At the same time, it must be s.aid 

 that these chapters are illustrated effectively by well cho.sen 

 and arranged tabled, and that several points receive good 

 treatment, for e.xample: available plant food (page .'!"): the 

 movements of water in soil (i)p. 44 58). 



Chapter IV deals with its subject in a thorough manner, 

 and 'is well illustrated. In Chapter \, the illustrative 

 statistics are especially useful, and a very good idea is given 

 ofthe special ])roblems of irrigation and drainage in Egypt; 

 it deals with the various problems, in connexion with its own 

 particular application, in an effective way. Similarly, as 

 may be expected, in Chapters VI and VII, the writer sh';ws 

 <i thorough grasp of his subject, and an excellent kncwiedge 

 of the special conditions with which he deals. In fact, these 



three Chapters (V, VI, and VII) are well worth perusal by 

 everyone who is interested in the different conditions under 

 which agricultural operations are conducted in different parts 

 of the world, for they, more than al! the others, incidentally 

 give a very good insight into agricultural conditions in Egypt. 



Like the other chapters that are of a similar nature, 

 Chapter VIII ctjntains useful information, well presented in 

 tables for the purpose of illustrating the principles that are 

 there described. Attention is specially drawn to the com- 

 mencement, where a good account is given of the relation 

 between manuring and the supply of water, where irrigation 

 is practised. With reference to the way in which the soil is 

 regarded, on page 21 G, may not the question be asked: 'Is 

 not the soil, rather than the farmer's warehouse, merely, the 

 manufactory, from the raw material, of sub^tmces which are 

 required in the elabor.itioii of the articles that are finally 

 produced I ' 



In the preface of the book it is stated 'it is hoped that 

 it may prove of interest to others (than those in Egypt) 

 engaged in troiiical agriculture'. From what has been saicl 

 above, it is evident that this interest does actually exist in 

 the work. Its perusal by such readers would have been 

 simplified, however, had more explanations been given of 

 native terius, and if the botanical, as well as the common, 

 names of plants had been included. It is hoped that this will 

 lie done in the case of the second volume, and that there 

 will be more uniformity in the spelling of native name.s. 



Many of the illustrations are not as effective as they 

 might be, owing to the fact that they have been produced on 

 a paper which is inferior to that for which the blocks were 

 intended. This might be remedied by publishing them as 

 plates, on thick paper, either at the end, or in the body, of 

 the book. In other respects, the latter is well produced in 

 an easily readable form, and its contents should form a use- 

 ful accessory to classes and lectures in agricultural science in 

 Egypt. 



//A XI) HOOK OF ERITISH GUI AX A. Published 

 under the Authority of the Permanent Exhibitions Com- 

 mittee. Dulaii and Companii, London. 



The contents of this rather bulky ' handbook ' may be 

 broadly summarized in order as follows : geography, history 

 and climatology; population and races; political history and 

 constitution; education; description of centres of population 

 and the adniinstration of laws in them; flora and fauna; 

 finance and resources; Government departments; consular 

 representation; ecclesiastical and legal interests; customs and 

 shipping; posts and means of communication; touring facili- 

 ties; planting and financial interests; medical service; agri- 

 cultural and niining administration; and general statistics. 

 This list will serve to show the complete;".ess with which the 

 inclusion of the various interests has heen made. A perusal 

 of the book, or reference to it. will demonstrate how 

 thoroughly the details of these nterests have been treated. 



This work is not of such a nature that its parts ma}' 

 be separately considered in a specific manner, neither is 

 space available for su?n a method of treatment. It is proper 

 to say, however, that the way in which it is published is 

 useful, and at tne same time, attractive. The type is good, 

 the i>lates a"e well chosen and well reproduced, and there is 

 a very giod map. Taking it all together, it should form an 

 exce'.lent example for other colonies where there is a desire 

 • : p\iblish a handbook of this nature, and it seems probable 

 that its promoters and users will soon feel the need of an 

 abbreviated, condensed edition that will .serve for momentary 

 reference, and at the same time add to the usefulness of the 

 larger book. 



