^4 HINDI COTTON IN EGYPT. 



the north end of the Lake of Tiberias, not far from the ajicient 

 Capernaum. The first two counts at Beteha were made in late- 

 phmted fields that had not yet been thinned or rogiied for Hindi. 

 The percentages obtained in these cases, 8.53 and 8.21, may be taken 

 to represent the amount of Hindi contamination represented in the 

 seed before phmting. Early-planted fields at Beteha seemed to be 

 as far advanced as any seen in Egypt, the date of the visit being 

 June 23. 



In order to obtain a more general and yet a not altogether in- 

 definite indication of the prevalence of the Hindi cotton, the apparent 

 presence or absence of Hindi cotton was noted for a considerable 

 number of fields that could be seen to advantage from the railroad. 

 Such inspection is greatly facilitated by a fact already considered, 

 namely, that the leaves of the Hindi cotton have greater freedom of 

 motion than those of the Egyptian cotton, and that they make pro- 

 nounced changes of position in order to face the sun in the morning 

 and afternoon. The Hindi plants are much more readily seen from a 

 distance at these times than in the middle of the day, when the 

 leaves are in a horizontal position to face the sun overhead. 



The presence of tall hj'brids gives a general impression of uneven 

 surfaces to the fields and thus betraj^s the presence of Hindi cotton, 

 even when details of individual plants can not be made out. But 

 when the broader, fresh-green leaves of the Hindi plants are formed 

 into rosettes to face the sun, they become conspicuous and unmis- 

 takable. Indeed, it is sometimes more difficult to distinguish them 

 from the okra that is often planted in the fields than from the 

 Egyptian cotton. The Egyptian okra (bamieh) has broad leaves of 

 the same color as those of the Hindi cotton and also a red spot at the 

 junction with the stem. 



Such observations are greatly assisted by the fact that the Egyp- 

 tian lailroads are usually elevated on embankments. By being able 

 to look down on the fields a more accurate impression can be gained 

 than by viewing the plants from the side, as one is obliged to do when 

 standing on the same level. 



It is to be expected of course that Hindi plants would be found by 

 more careful inspection in most of the fields where they were not ap- 

 parent from a passing train. But at least it may be considered that 

 fields showing no apparent Hindi have been rogued. In a large pro- 

 portion of cases the Hindi plants and hybrids were ver}' conspicuous. 

 Fields that have had the Hindi plants and hybrids rogued out often 

 appear remarkably even in height and color. 



Such an inspection could not be made to anj- advantage after the 

 Egyptian cotton has entered the fruiting phase, when the color 

 changes from a dark to a lighter green, thus destroying the contrast 

 with the Hindi cotton, so marked dui'ing the earlier vegetative phase. 



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