26 NOTES ON EGYPTIAN AGRICULTURE. 



of their removal — that is, when the Nile has risen sufficiently high to 

 warrant this step being taken. 



This period extends approximately from May to the middle of July, 

 and as the result of observations it is accepted that each acre of cot- 

 ton consumes al)Out 25 tons of water per day. It is assumed that in 

 the months of May, June, and July a cotton croj) can be successfully 

 raised on this basis. The actual "duty" of course varies from year 

 to 3'^ear, according to the state of the summer supply of the Nile. In 

 a year of good summer discharge the "duty " of water is always low, 

 while in a bad year when severe rotations are employed the "duty" 

 is high. In May and June a canal discharging 25 tons of water per 

 day for each acre of cotton to be irrigated is generally, therefore, 

 accepted as sufficient, though cultivators would use more were it 

 available. 



MANURING COTTON. 



Tlie question of manures and manuring is assuming greater impor- 

 tance in Eg3q3t than formerly. When the Delta was under a basin 

 system of irrigation and receiving annually the life-giving deposit of 

 the Nile, and when consequently the cultivation of a summer crop, 

 such as cotton, was imi^ossible, there was not that need for manure 

 which exists to-day. The introduction of i^erennial irrigation and the 

 more intensive cultivation which follows in its train liave, however, 

 brought about a great cliange, and the idea that the soils of the Nile 

 Valley are inexhaustible is a myth which is being rapidly dispelled. 

 True, in the basin lands of Uj)per Egypt the ancient conditions still 

 prevail, but this section is in a state of transition; and that system 

 which has been typical of the countrj'^ for so many thousands of years 

 is now giving place to perennial irrigation and the consequent aboli- 

 tion of the one-crop system in favor of a more intensive culture. 



The interdependence of water and manure has alread}' been referred 

 to, and whenever land is artificially irrigated the need for manure at 

 once arises. The two questions of water and manni-e are reall}' inti- 

 mately connected, and the supply of one should always be considered 

 with reference to that of the other. Where land is artificially irri- 

 gated in Upper Egypt tlie demand for manure, as already' mentioned, 

 is very great, and even in the basins themselves, when watering b}^ 

 means of wells is practiced, manure is emploj'ed. 



In the Delta the supply of manure is considered especiall}' in its 

 relation to the cotton and corn crops, but at present we shall confine 

 ourselves to the question of cotton. It is generall}^ laid down that 

 from 8 to 10 working ])ullocks per 100 acres are required in Egypt, 

 and in addition there are mules for transport, as well as cows, buf- 

 faloes, etc., kept both for milk purposes and for breeding. If it 

 is assumed that about one-half of the area of eacli farm is under cot- 

 ton, so far as work animals themselves are concerned there are from 



