36 



. V : Varies much according to the var. grown, weather prevalent 

 during maturity, locality, etc. generally begins fro in about September 

 the 15 th and ends by the 15 30 th of November. 2 4 pickings, gene- 

 rally 3, once every about 25--30 days. The 4 th picking known as 

 Scarto in the market, consists of short undeveloped fibre, chiefly 

 used for stuffing ; It is but occasionally obtained. About 50 / of the 

 total crop is obtained during the first picking, 34 / during the 

 second and about 16 / in the third. 



VII : Grown for its fibre. This when fully ripe is a flattened hollow 

 ribbon or collapsed cylindric tube twisted several times throughout its 

 length, and with the outer edges corrugated and indented somewhat 

 similar to a saw. The external qualities to be looked for might be 

 enumerated as follows : Length, fineness in diameter, evenness and 

 smoothness, elasticity and tensile strength and colour ; while the in- 

 ternal qualities required are : Hollowness or tube-like construction, 

 natural twist, corrugatcfl edges and moisture. The seed contains from 

 2^28 average 26 / of oil. Native mills only extract about 35 rtl. 

 per ardeb (270 rtls) of seed. The oil when crude has a ruby red or 

 reddish brown colour ; when refined is. pale yellow or straw golden. 

 Eland pleasant nutty taste. Chiefly used for burning, lubricating and 

 soap-making, also largely for adulterating other oils, particularly olive. 

 Deposits stearino on standing Finer brands eaten comparatively 

 cheap and known as Zeit Otn or Axara. 



The seed and oil-cake are fed to cattle, particularly buffaloes. Stalks 

 largely used as fuel. 



VIII: Perennial, but annual under cultivation, occasionally bien- 

 nial (Coin Okr). A deep, rich and thoroughly cultivated soil is requi- 

 red. Very careful after-cultivation and regular waterings. Manuring is 

 necessary, the fertilizers chiefly used being Coufri and Baladi. Artifi- 

 cials were also tried the best results being obtained by using the 

 following formula: 300400 rtls. of superphosphate, 60 70 of 

 ammonium sulphate and (i!) 70 of sodium nitrate*. Poudrette also gave 

 good returns. Best the Wot method* of planting '(watering before plan- 

 ting) ; thin t ) two. 40 (dry method) to (50 days (wet method) after 

 planting. 



A can tar- of raw Cotton is equal to 315 rolls, consisting of: Seed 

 VOO rtls fnlxHit II kolas) Kjbiv 100. loss 15. 



