GO NOTES ON EGYPTIAN AGRICULTURE. 



and it is irrigated on an aA^erage about every ten days. It is a very 

 profitable crop, and tlie ai'ea grown in tlie basins is between 90,000 and 

 100,000 acres, wliile it is also sown along the Ibrahimia Canal tract to 

 the extent of between 20,000 and 25,000 acres. 



Flood sorghum is sown both in the perennially irrigated tract of 

 Upi)er Egypt and in the basins. Sowing begins early in August and 

 ends early in September, the crop being harvested in the latter part 

 of November or in December. 



Millet is sown either by depositing a few seeds in holes about 14 

 inches apart, or the seed maj' be dropped behind the j)low similar to 

 corn. It delights in a rich soil and requires large quantities of 

 manure, both coufri and the nitrate-bearing day being extensively 

 used.. The crop is thinned during growth and when grown in holes 

 two plants are left standing together. 



The production varies greatly and some verj^ heavy jaelds are 

 obtained. From good soils 50 to CO bushels per acre maybe taken. 



Millet forms the staple food in Upper Egj^pt, taking to a great extent 

 the place of ccn-u in Lower Egypt. In making bread fenugreek seeds 

 are often mixed with it. 



MINOR CROPS. 



In a short bulletin such as this it is quite impossible either to treat 

 in detail the most important crops or to deal with those of secondary 

 importance. Of the latter there are many grown in the country, such 

 as lentils, peanuts, chick-peas, lupins, fenugreek, etc. A mere note 

 concerning them will be given. 



LENTILS. 



Lentils are sown in basin lands as well as those perennially irrigated. 

 On the latter the seed is broadcasted at the rate of about If bushels 

 per acre. The crop is not manured and requires very little w'ater. 

 From five to six months after sowing, the crop is pulled and thrashed, 

 the yield being about 20 to 25 bushels of seed. Tlie plants are some- 

 what straggling in habit and grow about 2 feet in height. The seeds 

 possess a high nutritive value and are largely consumed locally. The 

 straw also possesses considerable value. During the year 1902 about 

 110,000 bushels of seed were exported, valued at approximately 17,000 

 Egyptian pounds. 



EARTH NUTS, OR PEANUTS. 



Earth nuts, or peanuts, are grown on light sandj' soils in Lower Egypt, 

 being sown in late spring and requii'ing considerable quantities of 

 water. Their cultivation is similar to that liracticed in the United 

 States and calls for no special coniment. They occupy the land for 

 about eight months and yield about 55 bushels per acre. They are 

 not genei'ally manured. During the year 1902, peanuts to the value 



