13 



4253. Arachis hypogaea. Peanut. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 322), December 28, 1899. 

 " Seed peanuts from the cultivator who took the first prize at last year's expo- 

 sition of the Khedivial Agricultural Society of Cairo. Reported especially rich 

 in oil and extensively grown for oil production. Deserve testing in irrigated 

 dry regions of the South especially." 



4254. Trifolium alexandrinum. Egyptian clover. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 323), December 28, 1899. 

 ' ' Berseem Muscowi. " ' ' The great fodder crop of Egypt. As a catch crop, con- 

 sidered in lower Egypt as unequaled by any other plant. Winter culture is neces- 

 sary for its success as the hot summers kill or seriously injure the plants. The 

 variety ' Muscowi ' has been grown successfully in England, according to Mr. 

 George P. Foaden, secretary of the Khedivial Agricultural Society. It would be 

 advisable to sow this variety as follows : In regions which can be irrigated, sow 

 broadcast at the rate of not less than 40 pounds per acre. In Egypt as high as 

 50 and 60 pounds per acre are sown upon the mud left after subsidence of the 

 Nile, or upon soil previously thoroughly overflowed by means of the irrigation 

 ditches. Seed should be sown immediately after the subsidence of the water, 

 directly on the mud. As the plants are very sensitive to cold the seed should 

 not be sown until all danger of frost is over. In Egypt the seed is sown toward 

 the end of October and the first cutting can be made after 45 to 50 days, while 

 if sown 20 days later when cooler weather has set in, 70 days are required by the 

 crop to reach a stage fit for cutting. If planted here in October, it is often left 

 in the soil until the following June and five cuttings taken. This ■ Muscowi ' 

 variety is suited only for well-irrigated land as it requires much water. For 

 seed, the last cutting is omitted in June and the plants allowed to go to seed. 

 This variety is not sown with wheat or barley and in this respect differs from 

 the two following varieties, 'Saida' and 'Fache.' A thorough trial should be 

 made to utilize this most important crop in America." 



4255. Trifolium alexandrinum. Egyptian clover. 



From Cairo, Egvpt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 324), December 28, 1899. 

 "Saida." " This variety is the dry land sort, requiring comparatively little 

 water but giving fewer cuttings than the 'Muscowi' variety, It should be 

 sown after irrigation as in case of the latter variety, but requires much less 

 water subsequently. Any attempts to grow it as a summer crop in very warm 

 regions will fail, for it is distinctly a cool-season crop in Egypt. The three vari- 

 eties mentioned have perfectly distinct uses, which should not be disregarded in 

 any attempted culture. The tendency of the ' Saida ' variety is to trail or creep 

 along the ground. Large quantities of seed, 40 to 50 pounds per acre, are con- 

 sidered profitable for sowing." (For general statement see No. 4254.) 



4256. Trifolium alexandrinum. Egyptian clover. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 325), December 28, 1899. 

 "Fache." "This is a strong, upright growing variety of 'Berseem' which 

 is especially adapted to precede cotton or sugar cane. It is cut only once. It 

 requires less water than the 'Muscowi' (No. 4254). It is sown on the over- 

 flowed land which is not irrigated. It is often sown with wheat or barley, the 

 wheat or barley being sown first, the Fache added broadcast." 



4257. Zea mays. Corn. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 326), December 28, 1899. 

 "The variety 'Nabarawi' field corn, a variety especially suited for irrigated 

 land in hot climates like Florida or Arizona. Said to be superior to any variety 

 grown in Egypt from European seed. This is a field variety." 



