COTTON IN EGYPT AND THE SUDAN. 33 



now the Domains had supplied the Khedivial Society with large 

 quantities of selected seed for distribution among- the planters of the 

 whole country. It is the intention of the management to undertake 

 on its land experiments for the combating- of cotton pests, for which 

 purpose the Khedivial Society had not sufficient land at its disposal. 

 The Domains are also testing the use of artificial and other manure 

 for cotton, and are studying all kinds of problems relating to cotton 

 cultivation. As to further promotion of farming, up to 1910, the 

 Ministry of the Interior interested itself, on the part of the Govern- 

 ment, in the organisation of an insect campaign, and the Ministry of 

 Finance published reports on the area of cultivation and the quantity 

 of seed distributed. The Ministry of Public Works looks after the 

 construction of the roads, dams, canals, and irrigation works. 



As a methodical campaign against the insect pests, a systematic 

 improvement of the condition of the soil and several other questions 

 can only find an adequate solution through a central body', the 

 opinion, especially in English cotton circles, was expressed, that a 

 special Department of Agriculture should be instituted, and towards 

 the end of 1910 this was done ; this department is at present a branch 

 of the Ministry of Public Works in Cairo. 



The Agricultural Department commenced its work in 1911 under 

 the Director-General, Gerald C. Dudgeon, who has had experience 

 in West Africa, and also in the cultivation of East Indian cotton. 

 The whole staff of scientific inspectors and the experts of most of the 

 sections of the Khedivial Agricultural Society, who had so far 

 received Government support for the carrying out of their practical 

 experiments in scientific research, were transferred to the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. The Horticultural Society of Cairo was also 

 transferred to the new Department ; it instructs verbally, by publica- 

 tions and example. 



The Department established in the first year of its existence 24 

 experimental and model farms, spread over the whole country, 

 covering altogether an acreage of 106 feddans. It is intended to 

 increase gradually the number of these farms to 200; in 1912 there 

 were 42 farms in existence ; under the management of the able 

 botanist, Mr. W. Lawrence Balls, the Department created a seed- 

 breeding station for cotton, and made arrangements for the free 

 distribution of good seed to poor planters, and for the studying of 

 the pests of cotton plants, the various kinds of manure, and methods 

 for the improvement of the soil. 



The demonstration farms already mentioned are organised in the 

 following practical way. A large land holder is asked to place a 

 piece of his land at the disposal of the Agricultural Department, for 

 which it allows him the same profits which the neighbouring land 

 gives. The Department has, however, unrestricted authority as to 

 the methods of cultivation of this land to be applied by the labourers 

 of the landowner; the results obtained everywhere show that the net 

 profit is in almost all cases strikingly higher than what was guaran- 

 teed. The neighbouring farmers have, consequently, been convinced 

 of the better methods of the government inspectors, and are imitating 

 them. It was particularly intended to demonstrate on these farms 

 that cotton can be better grown with less water than is usually 

 employed, and that a better crop can be obtained when the plants 



