MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, EGYPT. 



Bulletin No. 21. 



REPORT ON A SOIL SURVEY OF 

 ZONE No. 1 (GHARBIYA), 1921. 



During the early part of 1921 a preliminary soil survey was made 

 of an extensive tnict of Government land in (Iharbrya (Zone No. 1). 

 The area in question. I -!(> square kilometres (30,000 feddans, approx.), 

 lies between Kariskiir and Kafr el Wastani and is bounded on the 

 north by the Kat'r el Battikh J)rain. A map was made of the area,* 

 this was then divided into kilometre squares by lines running N-8 and 

 K \V : at the points of intersection of a N- S line with an E-W line a 

 bore was made and samples of the soil taken at the surface and at 

 depths of one. two. and three metres. By distinguishing the E-W 

 lines by letters and the X-S lines by numbers the location of any 

 bore could be easily indicated. As the number of samples collected 

 amounted to about .~>()o it was evident that anything approaching 

 a complete analysis of each sample was out of the question, nor 

 is it likely that such a, proceeding would yield results of any great 

 practical value. It was therefore decided to estimate in each sample 

 the Total Soluble Salts and Chlorine (expressing the latter in the 

 form of Sodium Chloride, the condition in which most of the chlorine 

 in a soil usually occurs), to test each sample for Sodium Carbonate 

 and to make a simple mechanical analysis. This would enable one 

 to locate any beds of soil in any way different from the main bulk. 

 The amount of carbonate of lime was also determined in samples 

 taken at sixteen selected points evenly distributed over the whole 

 area examined. 



The bores were made with an auger, but to ensure that the sample 

 was drawn from the desired depth a special instrument was constructed. 

 This consisted of a short length of steel tubing attached to an iron rod. 

 When a hole had been bored with the auger to nearly the required 

 depth the auger was removed and the bore hole made us clear as 

 possible. The tube, which was of a less diameter than the auger, was 

 then lowered in the, bore and pressed into the soil. In this way the 

 tube could be partially filled with soil at any desired depth. This 



' The map attached hereto (Soale I : 1,301,000) is similar but on a reduced scale. 



