191 i.J Notes on Agriculture Abroad. 515 



1904 to ^"4,200,000 in value in 1909. It is a very hopeful sign that 

 improved methods of agriculture are being so widely introduced and 

 that the Government are giving the peasants such effective help in 

 purchasing agricultural machinery. Small credit associations continue 

 their prosperous activity under the control of a special Government 

 Department. They number at present 11,768, with a capital of about 

 ^"26,243,386. These credit associations, in conjunction with the 

 peasants' co-operative societies, are assisting in the introduction of 

 agricultural machinery, the purchase of seeds, manure, cattle, and 

 land, and also in the sale of grain. 



Live Stock and Agriculture in Egypt. — Steps are being taken with a 

 view to improving Egyptian cattle, but it does not appear that the 



working qualities of Egyptian oxen are likely 

 Notes on t0 De improved by importation. At present the 



Agriculture Abroad. yield of milk from the native cow, however, 



is less than half the average of a European 

 cow, while milk is sold retail in Egypt at more than double the price 

 obtainable in the United Kingdom; there is, therefore, an undoubted 

 opening for dairy farmers who would give their attention to a separate 

 milking breed. 



With regard to horses, the importation of British stallions gives 

 promise of success. The Turkish Government has now forbidden the 

 importation of mules, and has restricted the importation of horses from 

 Syria and other Ottoman territories. Consequently the value of horses 

 is rising, and there will probably be an opening in the near future for 

 the importation of considerable numbers of European horses. 



As regards progress in agriculture generally, a separate Department 

 of Agriculture, attached to the Ministry of Public Works, has been 

 created by Khedival Decree, and commenced work in January, 191 1. 

 Special attention has been paid to manurial experiments and the grow- 

 ing of various vegetable and seed crops, with a view to supplying 

 sound seed at moderate rates. There is a good prospect for seed firms 

 in Egypt, the climate being dry and suitable for the production of 

 excellent seed. The local demand is considerable, and an export trade 

 could soon be established. 



The cultivation of fruit and vegetables is developing rapidly, and it 

 is stated that there is an opening for more British enterprise in the 

 direction of planting large areas of land with timber and fruit trees 

 with a view to supplying local demands and developing export trade. 



Some progress has also been made in the direction of agricultural 

 education. Three agricultural sections of trade schools have been 

 formed, and it has been decided to create four practical farm schools. 

 The necessity for establishing an agricultural college in Egypt was 

 recognised by the Egyptian Government in 1890, when the School of 

 Agriculture was opened at Giza with 59 selected students. Last year 

 no less than 174 applied for admission, and 196 students are now attend- 

 ing the courses there, instruction being now given partly in the Arabic 

 language. 



The value of co-operation is becoming, to some extent, recognised by 

 the smaller farmers in Egypt, and a number of agricultural syndicates 



