Vol. XV. No. 365. 



THE AGRICULTUEAL NEWS 



141 



EGYPT OF THE EGYPTIANS. By W. Lawrence 

 Balls. I'p. 266, plates 32. London: Hi,r Isaac Pitman <k 

 Sons, Ltd. 1915. Price 6.s. 



Progressive cotton planters and must botanists are familiar 

 with the name of Lawrence l^alls in connexion with his 

 researches on cotton and the cotton plant in Egypt. It 

 is evident from this book that during his nine ye<ars' 

 residence in that country, Mr. Palls's attention was by 

 no means restricted, as one might almost have tliought from 

 the volume of woik performed, to specialized observations in 

 connexion with his professional studies. In this book 

 Mr. Balls a[)pears as a descriptive writer of considerable 

 artistic instinct, disjilaying also a sense of humour and of 

 just proportion — i|ualities which the general public do not 

 always associate with the scientific specialist. 



Part 1 of the book sketches the history of Eaypt from 

 4241 r>.C. until to-day — a matter of sixty centuries. 

 Obviously space limitations render the most general treat- 

 ment necessary, but it is none the less u.seful on that account, 

 considering the majority of people are ignorant of the 

 subject. 



Part 11 deals with the Nile. In Egypt the Nile is 

 synonymous with prosperity. The marvellous irrigation 

 system that has been evolved, which culminated in the 

 raising of the Assuan Dam in 191. '5, supplies water by canal 

 and ditch to every cultivated field in the country. 



The total area of land in I'^gypt capable of using peren- 

 nial irrigation is about 7,000,000 ai^res. In order to grow 

 a crop every summer on this entire area, the Nile discharge 

 during the summer months would have to be augmented by 

 6,000,000,000 tons of water. This has been partly accom- 

 plished by the raised Assuan Dam, whiph holds up water to 

 the extent of 2,300,000,000 tons of water over and above 

 the normal content of the river bed. Although this does 

 not meet the requirements of the whole of the cultivable 

 land in Egypt, yet under the existing regime the crops 

 . grown can be safely carried through even with the smallest 

 or latest Nile Hood imaginable. _ , 



I'art III of the book concerns ,.the inhabitants of 

 Egypt chiefly in relation to industry. This section displays 

 on intimate knowledge of the native peasant or fellah, and 

 includes some interesting observations regarding the 

 'foreigner' in Egypt. As regards modes and methods of travel, 

 the Egyptian railways are amongst the most comfortable 

 and efficient in the world, at least the main lines are. As 

 in many other parts of the world, motor bicycles and dust 

 are pestilential on the roads. In the case of the former, 

 however, when ridden along canal banks, the danger run 

 by Ithe driver is described as being greater than that 

 confronting the pedestrian. 



One chapter of this part of the book which should cer- 

 tainly be referred to in some detail before concluding this 



review, is that containing an account of the cotton industry 

 in Egypt, because this is a matter of direct interest to the 

 West Indian planter. (!otton is a very old-establi.shed crop 

 in Egypt, but not in its present form. Originally a tree 

 cotton was grown, but about ISOO better quality types were 

 introduced from America. The great impetus to cotton- 

 growing in Egypt was given by the American Civil War 

 which practically caused a cessation of the world's supply. 

 In 1861 when the Americstn Civil War broke out, Egypt's 

 crop was 596,000 kantars; in 186.5 it was 2,140,000 kantars. 

 The largest ci-op yet obtained is 7,6.81,000 kantars. Possibly 

 the crop of Kgypt will never be greater than 15,000,000 

 kantars owing to the limited area of land available. It is 

 important to remember that the growing oi citton is not 

 a gamble in Egypt as it is in some parts of the world, owing 

 to her wonderful irrigation and climate. 



Another point to bear in mind is that the (juestion of 

 seed supply has for many years recfuved expert attention, so 

 that Egypt now produces some of the finest cotton in the 

 world and may, some day, actually compete with the fine Sea 

 Island of the West Indies. As regards the commercial side 

 of the Egyptian cotton industry, Mr. Balls has for it 

 nothing but praise. Buying, ginning and inspection of the 

 crop are all centred in a fi'w large commercial houses. The 

 ginning is described as remarkably etficient, being conducted 

 at the rate of 120 lb. of lint per hour. The grading of 

 Egyptian cotton is also very efficiently done, the result of 

 a combinatifm of in.stinct and observation. 



Mr. Balls expects the yield of lint in tiie future to 

 reach 550 lb. per acre instead of the present 450 lb. In the 

 West Indies we are content with .'^00 lb. but, of cour.se. West 

 Indian cotton fetches a higher ]irii'i' than i'lgyptiaii. 



A NEW COVER CROP. 



In the October number for 1914 of the Monthly Bulletin 

 of Agricultural Intelli(jence and Plant Diseases, reference i.s 

 made to a new cover crop, Dolichos hosei, obtained by the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens, Kew, from the experimental plantation, 

 Kuala Lumpur. Through the courtesy of the Director of 

 Agriculture of the Federated Malay States, the (.Commissioner 

 of Agriculture for the West Indies was able to procure some 

 seeds of this plant, and these were distributed some months 

 ago for trial to the different West Indian islands. In forward- 

 ing these seed.s, Mr. Jjewtou-Brain the Director of .Agricul- 

 ture, Federated Malay States stated that the plant is easily 

 propagated from cuttings. Seeds are not easy to obtain. 

 He also stated that the plant in (|uestion grew very well in 

 Sarawak, from which country it was introduced into the 

 Federated Malay States. 



A not" has just been received from the Agricultural 

 .Superintendent, St. Lucia (.Mr. A. .T. Brooks), concerning the 

 result of a trial inadi- with this plant in that islaml. He 

 states that the plant should be a great acqui.sition where 

 a close cover crop is desired. Dealing with the growth of 

 the plant itself, Mr. Brooks statt's that of the seeds received 

 only one gernnnated ; this grew strongly, and after being 

 planted out, completely i-overod an area of .soil .'?! feet by 

 21 feet with a dense covering of green foliaKe, in five months. 

 Although the plant may be easly projiagated by cuttings, 

 the method adopted by .Mr. Brooks at lieunion Exjieriment 

 Station is to cut it up into small squares like grass turf and 

 plant it where it is desired that it should sjiread. 



