32 



and clover. Some fruit is grown, especially in the Fayiun, where 

 oranges, lemons, limes, olives, etc., are quite common. 



In the southern half of the delta sugar cane is grown principalh^ 

 for eating purposes. The cost of raising the cane there is about the 

 same as in Upper Egypt, l)ut the net profit derived from the ground 

 is about twice as great. Fruits of different kinds are among the most 

 profitable crops of this portion of Egypt. The date is grown exten- 

 sively, and a special tax is levied on this fruit. When a tree is cut 

 down another must be planted in its place. The government revenue 

 from an acre devoted to raising dates runs from $10 to $-1:5 per acre. 

 The cost of cultivating the ground approximates $50 per acre, while 

 the net profit is about $150 per acre. (Considerable land is devoted 

 to the growing of different vegetables. The cost of raising vegetables 

 averages about $15 per acre, while the net profit from the ground is 

 about $55 per acre. 



While some cotton is grown in the northern half of the delta, this 

 portion of Egypt must be regai-ded as essentially a rice district. The 

 net profit from the cotton fields is about $25 per acre, while rice pays 

 from $6 to $18 per acre only. Much of the rice grown in this portion 

 of Egypt is planted on ground which is ))eing reclaimed and put in 

 condition for the production of more valuable crojis. Indian corn, 

 barley, wheat, and clover are the other crops grown in the northern 

 portion of the delta. Some fruit is produced in the vicinity of the 

 towns and villages. 



DEVELOPMENT OF EGYPTIAN IRRIGATION. 



Originally all of the agricultural lands along the Nile, except a 

 narrow strip, depended upon the flood of the river for irrigation. But 

 one crop could be grown each year, and this in the winter time. Dur- 

 ing the remainder of the year the land remained fallow. Most of the 

 large canals were built during the twelfth dynasty (2200-1(500 B. C). 

 Levees were built along the Xile and the farming land was divided into 

 basins, which were filled with water from canals when the river rose 

 to a marked place at the head of the El Khalig Canal at Cairo. As 

 soon as this height was reached word was sent throughout Egypt; 

 the temporary earthen embankments at the heads of the canals were 

 then broken, and the water ran to the ))asins. If the Nile failed to 

 rise sufiiciently high to furnish water for the basins, considerable 

 suffering resulted. If the river was too high, embankments would 

 break, levees would be washed away, and widespread desolation would 

 result. It was not only necessary to fill the basins with water, Init the 

 water had to be red with silt from the mountains and plains of Abys- 

 sinia. If the land failed to receive the deposit of red mud. the yield 

 would be reduced. E^mptying the basins was even more difficult than 

 filling them. The lower basms had to be emptied first, or, if good 



