79 



4251. Zea mays. Corn. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 320), 

 December 28, 1899. 

 A corn for roasting. Matures in 90 days. Like Nos. 3999 and 4000. Said to be 

 superior to any variety grown in Egypt from European seed. (Reprinted from 

 Inventory No. 6. ) 



4252. Linum usitatissimum. Flax. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 321) , 

 December 28, 1899. 

 The Egyptian flax is of inferior quality, but grows in regions which are dry. It 

 receives only two irrigations, and may be of use in crossing with northern flaxes for 

 drier lands. (Reprinted from Inventory No. 6.) 



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 exposition 



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. (Reprinted from Inventory No. 6.) Distributed. 



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, consid- 

 ered in lower Egypt as unequaled by any other plant. Winter culture is necessary 

 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. (Reprinted from Inventory No. 6.) 



4255. Trifolium alexandrinum. Egyptian clover. 



From Cairo, Egypt. 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 dis- 

 tinctly a cool-season crop in Egypt. The three varieties mentioned have perfectly 

 distinct uses, which should not be disregarded in any attempted culture. The tend- 

 ency of the Saida variety is to trail or creep along the ground. Large quantities 

 of seed, 40 to 50 pounds per acre, are considered profitable for sowing. (For gen- 

 eral statement see No. 4254.) (Reprinted from Inventory No. 6.) 



