The Egyptian farm crops and vegetables. 



Allium Cepa. Arb : Bassal; Engl : Onion ; Order: Liliaccae. 



I : Varieties : (a) Sa'idi, (b) Beheri, (c) Shamy or Abiad, (d) 

 Roumy or Helou. 



II: Method of propagating ; By seed, which should be fresh 

 and of superior quality 1 1/2 2 kadahs per fdu. or about 2 Jurats of 

 seedlings. 



Ill : Time of planting ; September. 



IV: Time of transplanting ; Usually in 11 and 12 (River banks 

 and Islets in Upp. Egt.) and in 12 and 1, as late as 2 (Land under 

 canal system in Upp. and Lr. Egt.) ; First case, planted on the flat, 

 either singly in rows 35 cm. apart or in small groups, these being in 

 rows, 50 cm. apart. Second case, planted on ridges, both sides. (30-65 

 cm. between their tops and 15 cm. between the plants. 



V: Time of harvesting; 4 to 5 months after transpl. according 

 to the locality, kind of soil, time of transpl, etc. The crop is at its best 

 in April (U. Eg.) and in April and May (L. Eg.) 



VI : Number of crops ; One. 



VII : Chief tises of the plant ; Eaten raw, used for culinary 

 purposes and made into pickles ; The plant contains an acrid vo- 

 latile oil. which acts as a stimulant, diuretic, and expectorant. The 

 bulbs are used externally as rubefacients, particularly in allaying 

 rheumatic pains, and when roasted as a poultice. Considered as hot 

 and pungent described as aphrodisiac and carminative as well as 

 emmenagogue, when raw. Believed to promote appetite and sexual 

 (K)sire. The juice rubbed on insect-bites is said to allay irrita- 

 tion etc. 



VIII : (reneral Remarks ; The onion grown in Egt. is the Red 

 Spanish distinguished by ils comparative mildness and its size. Both 

 (a) and (b) var : are red, the former being of a larger size forming 

 the great bulk of the export crop it is largely made into native 

 pickles; grown in the Said. The var : (b) is superior in flavour and 



