21 



renewed if possible every year, (d) bears a great resemblance to 

 Yaffawi it is nearly equal to it as regards quality and grows 

 to a larger size. Of great demand it is but grown to a small extent 

 in the Gharbieh province particularly in the neighbourhood of lake 

 Burulus. It is comparatively late, (b) This is the most common var. 

 large in size it is the earliest of all. In shape it is nearly round and 

 of a light green hue. Flesh red, rich in water and compared to the 

 2 preceeding, softer and poorer in sweetness, (c) is chiefly distingui- 

 shed from the Baladi by being covered with a glaucous waxy bloom 

 having smaller seeds and being sweeter also of greater demand, (e) 

 This is an winter sort and the best of winter var. almost round in 

 shape it is of a very dark green colour outside and has a red, firm, 

 sweet flesh. This is a very poor var. chiefly grown in the provinces 

 of Minia and Beni-Souef it is round small light green striped 

 with deep green red flesh soft very juicy and poor in sugary 

 substances. Only but of a small demand. 



II : By seed which is soaked in water during about 24 hours, 

 before planting (River banks). 



On river banks the seed is sown in holes made on the flat in rows 

 at a distance of about 2 m. between the rows and from 75 80 cm. 

 between the holes. In the case of land under perennial irrigation the 

 holes are dug along trenches, the latter being shallow and used for the 

 purpose of watering the crop. The holes are made to a depth of 30 

 40 cm. their bottoms being as a rule filled with manure, Columbine 

 (Zibl Hamam) being that chiefly used for the purpose. In such a case 

 the manure not only provides the plant with food but also acts as a 

 forcing bed for the plant to grow ; 3 4 seeds to each hole. Thin to 

 1 or 2 plants for each hole. 



Ill : Sefi crop ; usually in March ; sometimes a fortnight earlier. 



Chitwi or Nili crop ; July and August. 



V : Sefi, begins about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 months after sowing and con- 

 tinues for about 1 1/2 in. 



Chitwi or Nili ; October and November. 



VII : The fruit is of th* most cooling and refreshing during sum- 

 mer diuretic ; digestive. 



The skins are often preserved - - used for feeding pigs ; young- 

 fruits are often made into pickles ; seeds contain an edible 



