ONIONS. 



59 



on the islands and river banks, but later on ordinary lands <'\t'ii m[) 

 to January and February. 



The crop re<[uires cai'eful eullivaliou 1o i)revent the .lifrowHi of 

 weeds, and a small hoe is employed to keep the land well stii-red. 

 During the first month aft(M- transplantin<^, Ihe crop must be hoed and 

 weeded, and this must be repeated dui-injj the second month. 



Onions respond to liberal manuring, liarnyai'd manuii* is employed, 

 and on the alluvinl deposits this is put under the i)lanls at the time 

 of transplanting, but on other land i1 is ap|>lied from one to one and 

 one-half months after transplanting and as a rule before any water is 

 applied. Small <iuantities of eoufri ai-e sometimes used, though barn- 

 yard manure is in gi-eatest favor. 



On ordinary peiennially irrigated lands six or seven watei-ings are 

 given during the growth of the crop. These should be light and not 

 sufficient in amount to soak the soil. 



About five months after transjilanting, tlie bulbs have attained full 

 size and the leaves become yellow. The crop is now ready to lift, and 

 no water should be applied for nearly a month l)efore harvesting; 

 otherwise a second growth commences. 



The bulbs are removed and exposed to the sun for two days, the 

 tops l)eing then removed, and another day allowed for drying. 



Early in April the onion crop arrives at Alexandria for export, the 

 first arrivals realizing the highest price. The product per acre 

 amounts to 5 or <» tons, on an average, on good soil.* Care has to be 

 taken in storing. If not thoroughly dried many of the onions will 

 sprout, and those which have been injured or l)ruised will decay. 

 The average price is from £2 to £'o per ton. 



The following figures indicate the exi)ort trade: 



The bulk of the crop is sent to England and the rest chieflj^ to 

 Austria. 



MILLETS AND SORGHUMS. 



Several varieties of millet possessing either white, yellow, or red 

 grain are grown in Upper Egj^i^t. It is sown l)otli as a summer and 

 as a flood crop, as has j)reviously been mentioned when referring to 

 crops grown in the basins. 



Summer sorghum in the basins is sown from about the middle of 

 March to the middle of April, or a little later, the crop being harvested 

 in August. The water for its growth is lifted by hand or animal labor, 



