58 COTTON IN EGYPT AND THE SUDAN. 



One may say generally that the cultivation of all superior kinds 

 of cotton is limited to the Delta. 



What is known in commerce as Scarto and Afjriti are not descen- 

 dants of a certain type of plants. These names are used to describe 

 the downy waste, similar to the American Linter, which adheres to 

 the seed-kernels after ginning, and has to be removed by a second 

 process. If, after ginning, the seed is passed through another roller 

 gin one obtains the " Scarto," if one uses instead the quicker-run- 

 ning saw-gin, one obtains " Afritti. " The two kinds of linters are 

 brought into commerce in three qualities, viz., secunda, prima, and 

 extra. The inferior seed-cotton which has been injured by boll 

 worms, or is found in stunted and dirty bolls, is also called "Scarto." 

 Such seed-cotton is ginned separately, and is used chiefly in Egypt 

 for stuffing cushions. 



The International Cotton Congress, held in Alexandria and 

 Cairo, in the autumn of 1912, has recommended that one should, in 

 the first- place, devote attention to the growing of a medium quality, 

 a bread-and-butter mark, with a uniform and strong fibre of the 

 old type of original Afifi quality, and that care should be taken not 

 to grow too many different varieties. 



For the European consumption, it was stated, at the meetings of 

 spinners in Cairo, the following kinds are sufficient; on the basis 

 of 6d. for middling American cotton in Liverpool, the following 

 prices may be considered as fair : 



Sakellaridis 12d. 



Joanovitch lid 



Nubari and good Afifi lOd. 



Ashmouni 8^d. to 9d. 



Abassi and Voltos 10|d. 



The spinners also cautioned the planters not to extend too much 

 the cultivation of Sakellaridis or other long-stapled kinds, as the 

 consumption of these is limited, and that there are relatively only 

 few mills which possess machinery adapted for them. 



At the beginning of December, 1912, the prices paid per Kantar 

 in Alexandria were as follows : 



Dollars 



Joanovitch 21 22 



Sakellaridis .' 204- 22 



Abbassi 20~ 20f 



Nubari 19 20 



Afifi 18J20 



Ashmouni 15 16| 



SEED SELECTION AND BREEDING. 



In spite of the excellent kinds of cotton which Egypt possesses 

 the method of the selection of seed has up to now been very primi- 

 tive, although the Domains, the Khedivial Agricultural Society, and 

 the Agricultural Department have, during the last few years, distri- 

 buted good seed at cost price. 



Even Mohammed AH had introduced the system of changing 

 the source of the seed supply every 5 years, and it is on this 

 principle of seed change that the poorest fellaheen, even to-day, buy 



