14 berseem: forage and soiling CROP OF NILE valley. 



Muscowi (PI. 1), which is the variety commonly grown in the delta, 

 where perennial irrigation is practiced and an abundance of water is 

 always obtainable, is by far the most important of the three. It grows 

 not uncommonly to a height of 5 feet and over (see PI. IX, tig. 3), 

 being the rankest grower of the three. It is broadcasted by the fel- 

 lah or Egyptian peasant directly on the mud which is produced by 

 flooding the land and allowing it to dry slightly. As much as a bushel 

 of seed is sown per acre, but in the crude method of broadcasting a 

 large amount of seed is wasted and a regular clover-seed sower could 

 be used to advantage. In Egypt the seed is worth less than 5 cents a 

 pound, or about the value of crimson clover, which it very closely 

 resembles. Fully 10 per cent of Egyptian seed is, however, valueless, 

 and it is, like all seeds in these warm climates, subject to weevils. The 

 seed is raked in slightly to cover it and often in three days in Egypt 

 the young plants are above ground. According to Mr. Lang Anderson 

 as much as 10 per cent of the seed sometimes fails to germinate. The 

 subsequent watering and attention depend somewhat on the condition 

 of the land, but after each cutting a thorough irrigation is given, not 

 immediately, but leaving sufficient time to elapse for the cut stubble to 

 dry up and cure, otherwise the water will rot the newly cut stems and 

 will often kill the plants. The sowing season varies from the 1st of Sep- 

 tember until the middle of January, according to location. If sown 

 early in the autumn four cuttings can be secured, while only three are 

 obtained when planted later; for although the plant may make but little 

 growth above ground if sown in the cool autumn, it establishes itself 

 and starts into a more vigorous growth in the early spring. A most 

 important point in the culture of this crop is that it is injured by intense 

 heat. Near Cairo, in early May, where the temperature had not gone 

 above 92 c , the berseem had begun to show signs of dying out, and by 

 the 1st of June, the writer was informed, it would have almost entirely 

 disappeared. A variety called Kadrawi is said to have a longer vege- 

 tative period, giving one more cutting than usual, but the writer has 

 been unable to verify the statement. The Muscowi berseem, if 

 planted in the early autumn, will give four cuttings. The first and 

 second cuts will yield about 8 tons of green forage each, and the third 

 and fourth only 6 tons apiece. When seed for next season's culture 

 is required it is the practice to let the plants go to seed in June after 

 the fourth cutting; otherwise often a fifth though inferior cutting is 

 made. The yield of seed is much heavier than that of clover. When 

 planted early the first cut may be taken in fifty days, but if the weather 

 shortly after planting is cold, seventy days are required. The writer 

 saw a field of late berseem planted January 5 which had been cut 

 March 11, at which time it was 18 inches high. A second cutting was 

 made April 7, and a third April 30, after which the roots were plowed 

 under. 



