CHAPTER VI 



COMMERCIAL VARIETIES 



The probable origin of the type of cotton plant grown in 

 modern Egypt has been discussed in the historical section 

 of this volume. Many commercial varieties have been 

 developed within this type. Some are extinct, and are 

 only known to the author by name ; such were Gallini, 

 Abyad, Hariri, Bamia, Hamouli, Zafiri, and Ziftawi. 

 Others which have been subjected to examination by the 

 author, but which have not been able to make good their 

 footing in the market, are Brown Yannovitch, Charara, 

 Kerki, and Bolanachi. Others again are cultivated to a 

 limited extent, such as Sea Island (both old stock and 

 imported seed), Sultani, and Voltos. 



The main varieties at present cultivated on a commercially 

 important scale are Yannovitch and Sakellaridis in the 

 " fine-spinning " group ; Abbassi, as the white and 

 moderately fine type ; Ashmouni, Nubari,* Afifi and Assili 

 in the " bread and cheese " group. 



Ashmouni is the putative ancestor of all these, by way 

 of Afifi. The origin of any one variety is most difiicult to 

 ascertain, but the majority probably arose as single-plant 

 " selections." In the case of Yannovitch this is definitely 

 known. 



* Nubari is not considered as a "bread and cheese " staple at present, but 

 its future probably lies that way. The matter is discussed in as yet 

 unpublished reports by the author on the Lancashire cotton demand, 



