116 EGYPTIAN AGRICULTURE. 



In addition to ploughs drawn by animal power, larger 

 and heavier implements are being permanently introduced 

 into the country. Steam ploughs have for some time 

 been in use in Egypt but it is only recently that they have 

 come into favour. Their price puts them entirely beyond 

 the reach of the ordinary small cultivator, and it is only 

 on Dairas and large properties that we may expect to see 

 them in use. The advantages possessed by steam ploughs 

 are the capability of breaking up the land to a much greater 

 depth, and doing more thorough work than is possible with 

 animal power. 



The system which has found most favour is that known 

 as the Double Engine System, in which two engines of 

 about 16 H.P. are placed at opposite ends of the land to be 

 ploughed, while the plough, cultivator or other implement 

 works between them. Each engine is provided with a 

 winding drum on which is coiled a steel rope. While one 

 engine is hauling the plough and consequently winding 

 in the rope, the other engine is paying out an equal length 

 of rope. The implement is consequently drawn alternately 

 by the two engines. 



There are other systems of steam cultivation where one 

 engine only is employed but, as they are not in use in 

 Egypt, they need not be dealt with here. Kecently motor 

 ploughs and diggers have been placed upon the market. 

 In this case the engine employed is a traction engine and 

 the implement is merely drawn by the engine over the 

 land. 



An ordinary set of double-engine steam ploughing tackle 

 costs about 3,300. The depth to be ploughed can be 



