COTTON IN EGYPT AND THE SUDAN. 93 



fully done than is generally the case with bales of American cotton, 

 which are most slovenly treated. The bales, which are sewn up in 

 good Indian jute canvas, and bound with 11 iron hoops, mostly of 

 German, English, or Belgian manufacture, clearly marked on both 

 sides, have a tare, which is of only 221bs., the density being 361bs. to 

 381bs. per cubic foot. The button hooks, used in Egypt, for fastening 

 the iron hoops are very practical. 



The average weight of the Egyptian cotton bale has in the course 

 of time materially increased ; it amounted in the middle of the eighties 

 to 6661bs., from'1895 to 1899 to 7331bs., and in 1910/11 to 7601bs. ; 

 the weight of a single bale fluctuates about 10 per cent, above and 

 below, that is between about 6951bs. and 8301bs. gross, but in all 

 cases have the bales the same cubic measurements. 



The measurements of an export bale of 7601bs. are approximately 

 50 by 20 by 30 English inches, and 20 cubic feet, while the hydrauli- 

 cally-pressed " Alexandria bale " of a weight of 8 to 12 kantars 

 measure 40 to 50 cubic feet. The measurements given in inches 

 would represent a cubical content per bale of 17| feet; as a matter of 

 fact 20 cubic feet are taken as the contents when calculating the 

 freight, which is explained by the fact that the cotton bulges slightly 

 out between the bands, which causes the bales to take up more room 

 after pressing than would be reckoned if one simply took the measure- 

 ments of the press-box as a standard. 



The expenses of compressing charged by each of the three large 

 companies are the same, viz., 3} P.T. per kantar. To this is added 

 1 P.T. per kantar for the handling of the cotton from the time of 

 the opening of the hydraulic bales to the completion of the steam- 

 pressed bales. 



COTTON SEED. 



The cotton seed falling off during the ginning process was 

 formerly used as fuel in Egypt, when it was not utilised for re-sowing, 

 and also partially as forage, as the seed from which the oil has not 

 been extracted is a very suitable food for sheep, although it should 

 not be given to oxen as an adjunct to green food. 



A great impetus occurred when, with the aid of modern 

 science, it became possible to extract the oil and to use it as a 

 commercial commodity ; indeed, it was with Egyptian cotton seed 

 that this discovery was made, the first trials being undertaken in 

 the years 1841-1843, in two oil mills of Marseilles, which, however, 

 were ruined through the experiments. The matter rested from then 

 until the year 1851. The experiments were renewed at Marseilles, 

 and, after lengthy studies of the problems of refining, and the use 

 of the cotton seed oil and the profitable use of the refuse, were 

 rewarded with success, and a growing export trade of Egyptian 

 cotton seed to Marseilles resulted. The rapid increase of the pro- 

 duction of Egyptian cotton caused by the American civil war led, 

 naturally, to a corresponding increase in the export of Egyptian 

 cotton seed, which became of great economic importance, and became 

 the second largest produce of export after cotton itself. The continu- 

 ally increasing quantity brought about at times a fall in the price 

 of 50 per cent., but the increased quantity made up the difference. 



The prices of cotton seed are calculated in P.T. per ardeb of 



