MANFRINOr COTTON. 31 



results of cxporiiiicnls whicli liave been coiKliu^ltMl on llicii- experi- 

 mental faiins tlu^ matler has assumed great imiKH-taiice, since it is b(Mnj^ 

 recognized lo a gi-eater extent year by year that by tlie employment 

 of suitable mixtures of manures profitable increases in yield, as well 

 as an iiiii)rovement in (quality, can be obtained. During the seasons 

 of I'.MJi and l'.h)'2 ex[)erinients conducted on somewhat i)oor land at 

 the society's farm at INIit el Diba showed that when, in addition to 

 stable manure, a suitable mixture of commercial fertilizei's consisting 

 of 400 pounds of superphosphate^, 1-5 jiounds of nitrate of soda, 50 

 pounds of sulphate of ammonia, and SO pounds of suli)liate of potasli 

 was employed the yield of seed cotton was increased from SSO i)ounds 

 on unmanui'ed land to 1,5!»5 pouiuls. The yield obtained by the use 

 of stable manure alone was l,lo5 pounds, or KiO pounds less than 

 when commercial fertilizers were emi)loyed in conjunction with it. 

 By the use of mineral manures alone, in addition to stable manure, 

 theyield obtained was 1,3 tO pounds of seed cotton, whereas an increase 

 of 260 pounds, or a total of 1,000 pounds of seed cotton, was obtained 

 when supplemented T)y nitrate of soda. 



As already nu^ntioned, the use of potash salts is attended with 

 practically no increase in yield on the ordinary alluvial soil of the 

 Delta, though when the soils are light the case may be ditlerent. 

 This fact has been l)rought out in many experiments, though whether 

 the use of these salts exercises any effect on the length, sti-ength, or 

 fineness of the staple is a matter for further determination. 



The influence of the growth of Egyptian clover preceding cotton is 

 most marked on poor land. On the Khedivial Agricultural Society's 

 farm, in the province of Gharbieh, an experiment Avas conducted dur- 

 ing the season of 1002 on land of similar quality. In one case, series 

 of fertilizer trials were conducted on land where the cotton crop had 

 been preceded by wheat and in the other case by clover. The results 

 obtained in pounds of seed cotton jier acre are given beloAv in a 

 tabulated form: 



Effect of chemical fertilizers on cotton in Egijpt. 



Kind of fertilizer. 



Without manure '. 



With stable manure only _ 



With superphosphate and ixitasli salts,. _ 



With superphosphate, potash salts, and soluble nitrogenous manure . 



It will be seen that the greatest difference is brought out when a 

 mixture of fertilizers is employed and is least when the crop is grown 

 without manure. It uuiy be stated conclusivel}', therefoi-e, that the 

 use of chemical fertilize r.s in conjunction with stable manures exercises 

 a very beneficial effect and gives a profitable return. The j)roportion 

 of nitrogen employed is greater than seems to be the case usually in 

 the United States, and a dressing of soluble nitrogenous fertilizer can 



