IV 



of India, who has had a long experience in the 

 breeding of cotton and who is recognized as one of the foremost 

 authorities on the subject. Mr. Leake was invited to make " recom- 

 mendations with a view to the maintenance and improvement of the 

 quality of Egyptian cotton and the increase of its yield." During a 

 visit to Egypt in May last, and again in the three months September to 

 November, he took full advantage of the opportunity of studying the 

 Egyptian cotton crop in the field, both in the earlier stages of growth 

 and throughout the picking season. Local knowledge and experience 

 were freely drawn upon by consultation with the officers of this 

 Ministry, the State Domains, and the Sultamya Agricultural Society, 

 and the trade aspect was examined by conferences both with 

 representative Egyptian ginners and with the fine spinners in Lanca- 

 shire. The report which Mr. Leake has submitted is, therefore, 

 based on an able and exhaustive study, and is a document of more 

 than usual interest and value to all concerned in the Egyptian cotton 

 industry. 



The present-day abnormally high prices for all grades of Egyptian 

 cotton, and the very small margin of difference between the prices of 

 the higher and lower grades, will, I fear, tend to place the grade giving 

 greatest yield in high favour with the cultivator. It is, therefore, 

 all the more necessary that energetic measures be taken to maintain 

 and improve the quality of Egyptian cotton. 



J. LANGLEY, 



Under-Secretory of State, 



Ministry of Agriculture. 



Cairo, January 25, 1920. 



