COMMUNITY PRODUCTION OF EGYPTIAN COTTON. 3 



it is explained that this quantity probably includes chiefly cotton 1^ 

 inches and more in length. If the designation " long staple " be 

 taken to comprise all Upland cotton having a staple of more than l^V 

 inches in length, it is probable that the American production exceeds 

 1,000,000 bales annually. While a few varieties of long-staple Up- 

 land cotton sometimes produce fiber having a staple of 1| inches or 

 longer, the bulk of the crop is less than If inches in lengths 



Egyptian cotton until very recently has been produced commer- 

 cially only in the delta and lower valley of the Nile River, in Egypt. 

 In recent years the Egyptian crop has amounted annually to the 

 equivalent of about one and a half million 500-pound bales. 



CHARACTER AND SUPPLY OF EGYPTIAN COTTON. 



Egyptian cotton is a distinct type, both botanically and commer- 

 cially, comprising several varieties and having a total range of staple 

 of from V 4 to If inches. The history of cotton growing in Egypt 

 since the present definite type was developed in that country about 65 

 years ago has been marked by the successive appearance of numerous 

 varieties. Each of these, after having been extensively grown for a 

 number of years, has shown marked deterioration due to intercrossing. 



The most striking characteristics of the Egyptian fiber are its 

 length of staple combined with great strength -and fineness. The 

 older varieties, Ashmuni and Mit Afifi, are characterized by a brown 

 or, more properly, pinkish buff color of the fiber, but the Sakellaridis 

 variety, which is now highest in favor among spinners, is nearly 

 white, or almost as light in color as Sea Island cotton. 



Egyptian cotton is used especially in the manufacture of goods in 

 which strength or fineness or a combination of both qualities is de- 

 sired. Some of the principal articles manufactured from this cotton 

 are sewing thread, hosiery, automobile-tire fabrics, and fine and fancy 

 dress goods. Until a few years ago mercerized fabrics were made 

 only from Egyptian cotton, but the process of mercerization has now 

 been developed so that other cottons can be successfully treated. 

 "Balbriggan" underwear was formerly manufactured exclusively 

 from the brown Egyptian cottons, but dyed white cottons are now 

 also employed for this purpose. 



The cotton crop of Egypt is grown entirely on irrigated land in a 

 climate which is practically rainless throughout the period of de- 

 velopment of the cotton plants. The absence of rain durino- the 

 picking season favors the production of clean cotton. The average 

 yield for the entire cotton acreage in Egypt is about 435 pounds of 

 lint per acre. The recent annual production of cotton in Egypt is 

 shown in Table I. 



