44 



NOTES ON EGYPTIAN AGKICULTURE. 



is accomplished by attnching a sort of ralce to the ridginj^ machine 

 where this is emijloyed. Native cultivators make their ridges in the 

 manner described in the chaj)ter on cotton. 



Plantini^ takes place early in sprinj^, in February, though experi- 

 ments which have been conducted recently seem to indicate an advan- 

 tage in sowing as early as October. Too little care is given to the 

 question of the choice of canes for planting instead of employing only 

 the best. Generall}^ speaking, the whole of the cane is used. The 

 company to which reference has been made adopted the following 

 plan: If planting takes place before the factories are at work, the 

 whole of the cane is emploj^ed, while if the factories are crushing, the 

 top third only (which gives the best results) is kejit for planting, the 

 remainder l)eing sent to the factory. No greater quantity is cut and 

 stripped per day than is necessary for that daj^'s planting. The canes 

 are laid along the furrows, covered lightly with earth, and then 

 watered, the same da^^ preferably. 



The cultivation of this crop is comparatively simple, and from 

 twelve to fifteen waterings are given. Several hoeings are necessary, 

 and tliese are performed with the hoe as described under cotton. 



It is very doubtful whether Egyjjt can be regarded as a very suit- 

 able country for the production of sugar cane, for neither in yield nor 

 in richness in sugar can it compare with many other countries. The 

 average 3'ield of cane for the first year may be taken as about 20 tons, 

 though in some cases more than 30 tons are obtained. During the 

 second year the yield on an average does not exceed 50 per cent of 

 that obtained during the first. 



The average sugar content does not exceed l-t percent; indeed this 

 would be considered an extremelj^ good result. During the season of 

 1902, 11,148,491 cantars (of 100 pounds each) of cane were crushed in 

 Upper Egypt, yielding 1,028,105 cantars of sugar of first quality, 

 equivalent to 9.2 per cent of No. 1 sugar. 



Only one refinery exists in Egypt. A great portion of tlie sugar 

 produced is consumed locally or exported to India and other coun- 

 tries without being refined. 



The following tables show the quantities of cane crushed during 

 the past five years, together witli the yield of No. 1 sugar: 



Quantity of cane crushed ami yield of sugar during 1 lie past fiiie years. 



[Cantars of 100 pounds.] 



