414 



the counterpoise until the leathern basin comes to the level. The animal 

 labor is sometimes done by donkeys, but generally by oxen, in connec- 

 tion with pumps. The apparatus consists of a wheel turning on a hor- 

 izontal axis and carrying an endless rope, upon which are i>laced earthen 

 pots or jars. As the wheel is turned the pots and jars are carried round 

 and fill themselves with water at the bottom, and empty themselves at 

 the top. Steam-power is used in connection with hydraulic pumps. 



In the system of rotation of crops, cotton i)lanted in March is. cleared 

 from the ground in November ; clover follows and matures in February ; 

 wheat, beans, or barley are then sown, and reaped in May or June ; In- 

 dian corn follows, and is reaped in September. Sometimes two crops of 

 clover can be raised up to February, when cotton may follow in rotation. 

 The land is only stirred up by a wooden imxdement somewhat similar to 

 a plow, but without mold-board. Eeaping. is done by j)ulling, or cutting 

 with small hooks ; carrying is all done on the backs of camels or don- 

 keys; thrashing, by the treading of oxen 5 winnowing, by casting the 

 grain into the air to be cleansed of chaft' by the wind. 



The most serious hinderances to progress in methods of agricultural 

 production lie in the matter of land tenure, and arbitrary and oppres- 

 sive taxation. If an owner of land is unable to pay a tax levied his 

 property" is confiscated, and the tax is discretionary with the Viceroy or 

 with local governors. It is stated that the Vicero}^ holds about one- 

 third of all the lands of Egypt, the profits of which accrue to him. But 

 this ruler encourages Europeans engaged in commerce, relieving them 

 of taxation and the operation of the laws of the country, every nation- 

 ality being allowed to set u]) its own legal tribunal. 



The paper concludes with the hopeful statement that there are indica- 

 tions of an inji)ortant change, and if it would bring about security in 

 the tenure of land, combined with moderate taxation, the agriculture of 

 Egypt might yet become a field for British capital and enterprise. 



Cakolina rice in India. — The Agricultural Gazette of India reports 

 five experiments with Carolina and native rice, made under the auspices 

 of the government in the districts of Nagpur, Chanda, Bhandara, and 

 Eajpur, of the central provinces, and the Upper Godavery district, 

 Madras presidency. The reports from the four districts first named 

 represent the Carolina rice as superior to the native in strength and 

 stiffness of stalk, and those from Bhandara and '■ handa state that 

 the grain of the Carolina is more firndy set than that of the native, and 

 therefore less liable to be shaken off by high winds, &c. While the 

 report from Bhandara speaks favorably of the i)roductiveness of the 

 Carolina rice under proper cultivation, and commends the large size of 

 its grain, and that from the Bajpur district indicates large results under 

 careful irrigation and manuring, the general expression is that under 

 the ordinary methods of the country the product is no larger than that 

 of the native seed. 



In the Upper Godavery district fields of a similar character were 

 selected, the soil being rich, loamy, "approaching cotton-soil in charac- 

 ter, but containing a pretty large admixture of sand," and well supplied 

 with watei\ The field allotted to the Carolina rice was thoroughly 

 plowed IS inches deep, manured with cow-dung incorporated with the 

 soil, then watered and replowed. The seed was sown July 1 ; trans- 

 planted August 17 ; crop harvested November 22. On a field having 

 like advantages of manure, water, &c., the native rice was sown broad- 

 cast July 20; crop harvested November 15. The chief point of differ- 

 ence in the management of the two fields consisted in the transplanting 



