COTTON IN EGYPT 57 



the ravages of insect pests, especially the cotton- 

 and boll-worms, insufficient manuring, and the culti- 

 vation of the crop by some growers in a biennial 

 instead of a triennial rotation. All these factors are 

 being taken into serious consideration by the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, and efforts are being made to 

 effect improvements in every direction. 



The great increase in the crop of 191011 was due 

 to the fact that the Nile flood was late and the period 

 of over-watering consequently delayed. A prolonged 

 spell of warm weather in the autumn promoted 

 evaporation from the soil and thus prevented the soil 

 from being too wet. Similar conditions prevailed 

 in the following year. In 1913, the Nile flood was the 

 lowest on record and a large crop was again produced. 

 These results confirm the view that the excess of sub- 

 soil water was the principal cause of the fall in the 

 yield during earlier years, culminating in the dis- 

 astrous crop of 1909-10. 



The distribution of the Egyptian cotton crop is 

 illustrated by the following figures giving the quanti- 

 ties (thousands of Ib.) exported to different countries 

 in the year 1913 : United Kingdom, 296,794 ; United 

 States, 66,712; Germany, 65,878; France, 65,001 ; 

 Russia, 59,420 ; Austria-Hungary, 42,795 ; Switzer- 

 land, 27,141 ; Italy, 26,340 ; Japan, 17,776 ; Spain, 

 15,812; Belgium, 2,437; Holland, 2,400; British 

 India, 713; Portugal, 700; Turkey, 442; Greece, 

 191 ; other countries, 92 ; total, 690,644. 



EGYPTIAN VARIETIES 



The cotton introduced into cultivation in 1820 

 was grown for many years under the name of " Jumel." 

 " Sea Island " cotton was introduced in 1822, and 

 was cultivated until about 1860. Brazilian cotton 

 is also said to have been grown from about 1827 

 onwards. In course of time, from these various 

 forms the " Ashmouni " cotton plant was evolved, 

 which is the oldest of the varieties now cultivated in 

 Egypt . The principal varieties grown at the present 



