EICE. 



57 



The plan shows a plat of land 500 meters long bj' 300 meters in width, 

 or a little over 35 acres. Tlie land is cut up into divisions (" gattas "), 

 eacli being 150 meters by 100 meters, or a little moi-e than 3.1 acres. 

 The main drains are -7 inches deep and the smaller drains, similarly, 

 23 inches. The drainage, according to these data, requires l,S(j5 cubic 

 meters of eartliwork per acre, whicli, at the rate paid in Egypt, is 

 equal to an expenditure of $2.15. It is generally conceded that it is 

 preferal)le for a landowner to let land to tenants for the growth of 

 flood rice rather than to cultivate it himself, 'i'he small banks and 

 water channels are made by the tenant. The former are very neces- 

 sary, as they prevent the disturbing of the young plants during the 

 first fortnight of growth by the heavy winds which often prevail. The 

 small channels are also necessary; otherwise the plats marked "C " will 



I 



100 



I 



100 



\ 



100 



\ 



fOO 



I 



/ao 



MAIN DRAIN 



CAf^AL 



/oa 



100 



100 



1 0.0 



100 



MA /A/ DRAIN 



I 



I 



5 



I 



I 



Fig. 3.— Arrangement of a crop of flood rice. 



not get fresh water and will be more backward than those marked "A." 

 Fellaheen pay from %\ to 15 per acre as rent to grow a croi) of flood 

 rice on fairly sweet land. If the land is salt, the tenant gets half the 

 crop for his labor and the owner the other half as rent. The seed is 

 provided by the owner, half of which is returned at harvest. 



As soon as the Nile water arrives, the little divisions are filled with 

 water, and the land is again leveled by drawing a plank over it. If 

 the land is not very salt, the seed may be sown after leveling; but if 

 salt, the water must be run off once or twice before sowing. More 

 seed than usual is required on salt lands. The critical period of the 

 crop is the first ten or fifteen days, and if the land has not been proj)- 

 erly leveled the high patches die for want of water, or, on the other 

 hand, the low-lying patches are flooded out. On fairly sweet land 



