GARDENING IN EGYPT. 



CHAPTER I. 



CLIMATE AND SOIL. 

 CLIMATE. 



THE close proximity of this country to Europe is 

 often the cause of too little attention being paid to 

 its climatic peculiarities. Egypt is just near enough 

 to the Equator to alter the seasons without entirely 

 changing them, and therefore it is a considerable help 

 to the horticulturist if he makes a careful study of 

 the changes he will have to contend with. 



The climate of Egypt is to a great extent influenced 

 by the Nile, but the immense absorbing power of the 

 desert is the country's chief regulator, for, were it not 

 for these large tracts of desert plains, the winter rains 

 of Lower Egypt, would extend far up the Nile Valley, 

 and the great expanse of nearly stagnant water at 

 both mouths of the Nile, would possibly render the 

 fertile Delta, as unhealthy as the pestilent regions of the 

 West Coast of Africa. 



The Egyptian year may be divided into two seasons : 

 the hot season from April to November, and the cold 

 season from December to March. February is usually 

 the month for high winds, although occasionally strong 

 winds are experienced even before and after that 



B 



