114 COTTON IN EGYPT AND THE SUDAN. 



THE FUTURE OF EGYPTIAN COTTON. 



It is estimated that by making the fullest use of the area culti- 

 vated at present giving an average yield of 4 kantars of cotton per 

 feddan in Egypt, north of Assiut, 10,000,000 kantars of 

 cotton per year could be grown, and a further 1,500,000 could be 

 obtained by reclaiming and cultivating the large lakes near the 

 coast and the neighbouring waste desert lands. As regards Lower 

 Egypt, with the exception of the northern edge of the Delta, the 

 maximum irrigable area of cultivation will very shortly be reached. 

 On the other hand, there are still larger areas, apart from the Sudan, 

 to be found in Upper Egypt, if the available water supply can be 

 increased. Better crops than the present ones can be obtained from 

 the poor land tracts if improved methods of cultivation, careful 

 choice of seed, and the general application of artificial manure are 

 introduced. 



Still, the reclamation of new culturable land is only possible within 

 very confined limits, as Egypt is simply a narrow oasis, drawing its 

 sustenance from the Nile, and consequently the time will arrive 

 when, even with the highest possible perfection of the irrigation 

 system of the Nile, the limit of the supply will be reached. So Egypt 

 will never, even under the most favourable circumstances, be a rival 

 to the U.S.A. as regards the amount of cotton production. 



More important for the Egyptian cotton industry than the exten- 

 sion of the cultivable area appears to be the problem of increasing 

 the yield of the crops and maintaining the quality, which latter has 

 placed the product of Egypt almost beyond any competition. 



According to its quality, Egyptian cotton undoubtedly takes the 

 first place in the markets of the world ; with respect to length of 

 staple, fineness, lustre, strength, and spinning qualities, it is second 

 only to the best Sea Island qualities of North America and the West 

 Indies; but as the total crop of Sea Island represents only from 5 to 7 

 per cent, of the Egyptian crops, one may be justified to say that as 

 far as the manufacture of fine goods is concerned Egyptian cotton 

 has no competition. 



It is true, long-stapled cottons are also grown in North America, 

 but the area sown with this type is rather on the decrease, which is 

 one of the reasons of the increased importation of Egyptian cotton 

 into that country. Up to a certain degree American long-staple 

 cotton can compete well with Egyptian cotton, and when there are 

 great differences of price between these and Egyptian types,' the 

 latter have already been frequently replaced by American kinds ; the 

 material falling-off in the quality of Egyptian cotton in the season 

 of 1911, especially of Mit Afifi, made the substitution of American 

 cotton for certain kinds comparatively an easy matter. 



If it should become possible to successfully grow in another 

 country a cotton of equal quality to the Egyptian type, under similar 

 conditions of production, and this does not in any uay appear 

 impossible, a fall in the price of Egyptian cotton would occur, and a 

 resulting economic loss would be sure to overtake Egypt ; the risk o! 

 specialising on one (Top and to neglect all others has already shown 

 itself clearly during the bad cotton seasons of 1908 and 1909. 



