and Horticulture in EgT^jjf. 651 



proportion begins to differ, but still the expenses of workmen of 

 every description are constantly treading on the heels of their 

 incomes, and, from the innate desire to enjoy our condition, will 

 probably always do so. A fellah, or agricultural labourer, in 

 Egypt, receives about Id. per day, and if he is prudent he can 

 live on ^d. per day. We now come to the important subject of 



" Horticulture. — Much has been done in Egypt for horticultural improve- 

 ment ; many of the gardens are beautiful in appearance, and rich in their 

 possessions; the most striking are in the care of Europeans ; that of Ibrahim 

 Pacha, in the island of Rhoda, is one of the most attractive. It is under the 

 superintendence of Mr. Trail, A.L.S., C.M.Z.S., &c., and is kept in order by 

 about 120 workpeople, whose average earnings are a piastre (2hd.) per day ; 

 the extent of this garden is about 40 acres. In this garden many very 

 interesting and important experiments have been made, which are likely to 

 have a happy influence on the future productions of the country. I found the 

 teak tree in a most flourishing state. In a period of seven years it had reached 

 the height of 25 ft., and was most luxuriant in appearance. Mr. Traill had 

 been producing the teak from seeds, and there were about 300 teak trees in 

 the garden. As forest trees are almost unknown in Egypt, the timber con- 

 sumed for ship-building, for domestic and general purposes, being principally 

 imported from Syria, the introduction of the teak is of the highest interest 

 and importance to the country. The bamboo, the yam, the caoutchouc, the 

 ginger, and the arrow-root had also completely succeeded, and, in the opinion 

 of Mr. Traill, may be cultivated without difficulty to any extent. The custard 

 apple also has been introduced and prospers. 



" The experiments that have been made in the cultivation of the coffee and 

 tea plants have not been fortunate, and it is to be feared that the soil of Egypt 

 is not friendly to their production. But that the introduction of many 

 important agricultural articles, which have hitherto not been attended to, 

 would add greatly to the resources of Egypt, there can be no doubt. The 

 inertness of the fellahs, the unwillingness to try any new produce, however 

 much the cultivation may promise, have been the cause of the scanty number 

 of articles which the Egyptian soil, so rich and exciting, has hitherto nur- 

 tured. Nothing but the stubborn purpose of the Pacha would have led to 

 the growth of such vast supplies of cotton, to the cultivation of opium and 

 indigo, and other objects of European consumption. The peasant is always 

 desirous of producing what he and his neighbours consume, in preference to 

 articles for export ; and it is to be feared, the coercion which is exercised 

 towards the fellah, in order to compel the growth of the principal articles of 

 demand for foreign markets, finds some justification in the unwillingness of 

 the cultivators to attend to them without the arbitrary interference of the 

 authorities. 



" The successful attempts which have been made in the gardens of Egypt, 

 may ultimately produce in its fields results of a more extensive character. 

 Horticulture is in that country scarcely distinguishable from agriculture, and 

 will, probably, by the attractions of greater profits, encourage adventure. 

 Ibrahim Pacha has, indeed, been very willing gratuitously to distribute seeds 

 and plants and trees from his own garden ; but the cases are rare in which 

 any attention has been paid to them by the receivers. 



" To the Pacha the horticulture of Egypt owes much ; not only are his 

 own extensive gardens watched over by intelligent and skilful botanists, but he 

 has sent travelling gardeners to the East Indies and other parts, in order to 

 collect specimens of such vegetable productions as are likely to suit the 

 Egyptian soil. Nor is there any unwillingness on his part to incur any 

 expenses for the furtherance of botanical science, and for making it instrumental 

 to the general agricultural interests of the country. [Dr. Bowring informs us, 



u u 4) 



