424 COTTON 



measures should be introduced. Mr. Willcocks main- 

 tained that tehl and bamiah should always be pulled up 

 by the roots, never cut, as the latter would only induce 

 new growth from the roots, which would yield a suffi- 

 ciency of food for the next generation of boll worms. 

 Cotton wood, he urged, should not be allowed to remain 

 in the field until January, March, and April, as this was 

 certain to provide a material help to the boll worm. 

 When the cotton wood was cleared he recommended that 

 it should be used for fuel as quickly as possible, in order 

 to destroy the boll worm pupae which might be upon it. 



Legislation regarding Cotton Boll Worm. 



The outcome of Mr. Willcocks 's recommendation was 

 the promulgation of a law (No. 27 of 1909) which was 

 originally designed with the chief object of the elimina- 

 tion of all growth of bamiah, tehl, and cotton for a 

 definite period, but which, as it was finally passed, per- 

 mitted the continuous cultivation of ratoon cotton (okr) 

 in some districts, and was found almost unworkable in 

 connection with the rest of the cotton area, owing to the 

 fact that cotton plants were permitted to be cut instead 

 o-f being pulled up, and were frequently found growing 

 as strong plants when the succeeding crop, berseem or 

 wheat, was cut in the next spring. 



After much representation of the evils attached to the 

 cultivation of okr or ratoon cotton this cultivation was 

 regulated by law at the instance of the Department of 

 Agriculture (No. 19 of 1912). It was made compulsory 

 by this new law to uproot or cut below the surface of 

 the soil all plants of cotton, bamiah, or tehl in such a 

 manner that they could not sprout again. This obligation 

 with respect to the greater part of Egypt was executable 

 before December 15 of each year, and a few districts only 

 in the north were permitted to extend the period until 

 January 15. The cultivation of okr or ratoon cotton was 

 only permitted in certain districts if a Ministerial Arrete 

 was published to this effect before March I in the year 

 preceding. 



There was a great improvement occasioned by the 

 enactment of this law. The cultivation of ratoon cotton 



