T.S EGYPTIAN AGRICULTURE. 



and warmth of the land the crops are healthy and ripen 

 early. On the sandiest soils, the crops which give the best 

 return and at the same time improve the soil, are the 

 nitrogen-collecting leguminous crops, earthnuts, lupins, 

 lucerne, and berseem. Well manured vegetables do exceed- 

 ingly well on sandy soil. Henna, barley and sesame are 

 grown on sandy soils. Millet requires a less moist soil 

 and therefore does better than maize on dry sandy soils. 



The properties of clay soils are in direct contrast to 

 those of sandy soils. Strong clays are usually the worst 

 soils from the farmer's point of view. They are exceedingly 

 difficult to cultivate and only give poor results. Milder 

 clays are not so objectionable. Clay soils have a very high 

 w^ater capacity, are impervious and consequently are often 

 wet. They require little water, yet the floodings may be 

 heavy as there is little fear of excessive drainage. They 

 have a high but slow capillary power, and on drying they 

 shrink and crack to the detriment of the growing crops. 

 They are cold soils and are very badly ventilated. Clay soils 

 are difficult to cultivate and even after the most exhaustive 

 tillage seldom give a fine tilth. To minimise cracking 

 much fassiiig is required, and unless the soil is worked 

 when only slightly moist, it is apt to puddle into hard 

 lumps. By mixing clay soil with sand a loam soil with 

 suitable physical properties may be obtained. Clay soils 

 usually contain much mineral plant food but, on account 

 of their power of fixation of plant food, and their lack of 

 air, they are often deficient in available food, and the 

 action of manures is very slow. Farmyard manure is 

 suitable for clay soil as it helps to lessen its tenacity. All 



