LAND RECLAMATION. 211 



attempt her seem and the land is therefore washed a second 

 year. The great goal in reclamation is to grow good 

 berseem, for when that is attained, all other crops follow. 

 By the third year cotton can be grown, but the land has 

 not then reached full development for it continues to 

 improve for some years. There are always spots which 

 remain backward even to the fifth and sixth year. Extra 

 drains, ploughing and washing are the best means to 

 bring them on. Unreclaimed land is generally poor in 

 organic matter and in nitrogen, and for this reason, 

 berseem growing is strongly recommended. Ploughing 

 before the first season's washing is useless on -salt land. 

 It is better to reserve it till the land lias been sweetened 

 to some inches in depth. 



It is necessary to have houses for the men in charge of 

 washing the land. One man can look after a hoshay of 

 seventy feddans. A few houses are therefore built the 

 first year. Later, when ploughing begins and more men 

 are employed, the number of houses is increased and cattle 

 sheds and magazines are built and ultimately full accom- 

 modation is provided for tenants. 



If land is let to tenants, they should not, on any account, 

 have it given to them until it is in good order. To do so 

 is a most fatal mistake, (liven good land the fellah will 

 work it well and pay his rent, but with semi-reclaimed 

 land belonging to another, he will not exert himself, and 

 at the end of his lease the land will be returned with 

 arrears of rent due, drains in bad order and the land no 

 better than when he got it. 



