VARIETIES OF COTTON. 33 



(.')) TA'iTiiininou.s forajre crops fdiiii an cxeelkMit prcijsiratioii for a 

 good cotton crop, but to ol)taiu the best rcsuHs the soil shouhl be 

 ph)we<l up sonic time before cotton phmtini;- lakes i»hic(\ 



(4) The fullest advanlaire of tlie use of lliese nianurt^s, as well as 

 of any cheuiical fertilizer that may be emph)ye(l, can only be ol)lained 

 when the soil is well prepared, deeply cultivated, and the crop judi- 

 ciously watered during growth. Freipient hoeings also keep the crop 

 in a gradually progressive condition. 



(5) In addition to the use of barnyard nninure at the rate of 10 or 

 15 tons per acre, applications of chemical fertilizers are attended with 

 profit. 



{<;) Phosphoric acid at the rate of -tOU pounds per acre applied in 

 the form of soluble phosphate gives excellent results. It tends to 

 check excessive growth, increases the yield, imi)roves the staple, and 

 hastens maturity. 



(7) A subsequent diessing of solul)le nitrogenous manure isattended 

 with excellent results. A good mixture in Kgypt consists of about 

 125 pounds of nitrate of soda and about 50 pounds of sulphate of 

 ammonia. Wherelargei' ([uantit ies of barnyard numure are <'niploycd 

 it may be advisable to omit the latter. Th<' soluble nitrogenous 

 manure is best employed in two applications. 



(8) Potash manures in Egypt have not given any increase in yield, 

 and their value is pi-oblematical. Their effect on the quality of the 

 fiber has not been accurately determined. 



VARIETIES OF COTTON GROWN IN EGYPT. 



The originof Egyptian varieties of cotton is lost in obscuritA'. Pi-e- 

 vious to the year 1820 un indigenous cotton existed in Egypt, but, as 

 already stated, its cultivation was practically unknown. In that year 

 a variety of ordinary white cotton was brought to Egypt by a Fi-ench- 

 man, M. Jumel, and even its origin is somewhat uncertain. It was, 

 however, i^i'obably brought fi-om the upi^er Nile regions. In the 

 growth of this cotton the Khedive took a great intei-est, and he com- 

 pelled cultivators to grow it in several districts. At that time the 

 irrigation of Lower Egypt was greatly modified by the making of deep 

 canals capable of carrying the low summer water of the Nile, and the 

 cultivation of cotton began to assume greater importance. From the 

 3'ear 1825 to 1830 it is said that Sea Island cotton was grown regu- 

 larly in Egypt; and though it is unknown now, old natives occasionally 

 speak of a variety "whose name certainly appears to be a corruption of 

 the words "sea island." Again, it is stated by some that Peruvian 

 cotton was introduced and grown. 



All that can be asserted with safety is that out of the varieties exist- 

 ing in the countr}^ "Ashmouni " cotton was evolved, and of the varie- 

 ties at i)resent cultivated in Egypt this is the oldest. 



29210— No. 62—04 3 



