And all that we can do, the government, as well as the Agricultural Society through its agents, is to warn of the damages that must result from this strain. As for anything else, we cannot do anything. There is a wide scope for work by directing attention to the selection of good seed. Last year, the Agricultural Society distributed selected seed sufficient to plant about ten thousand feddans, on the condition that the seed produced from it be sold by the Society at a certain price above the price of ordinary seed. Is there enough seed of this type to plant 75 thousand feddans, and it will be distributed to the farmers at its cost value? Mr. Foden, Secretary of the Agricultural Society, wrote, "It is gratifying that the seed has yielded well, according to the unanimous opinion of the farmers, and it is hoped that this method will stop some of the widespread disruption in the seed. The book publishes facts that help in clarifying this important matter, with experiments in breeding and growth, along with experiments from the Society's laboratory."

The Department of the Doman has placed at the disposal of the Society a quantity of well-selected seed sufficient to plant 20 thousand feddans, and this area will be used to extract seed from this year.

The beneficial remainder of the Agricultural Society continued the study of the fungus that infects the seed, and reached fungal results of general value. This fungus is the cause of most of the damage to the seed, which was previously attributed to weather conditions and other causes. It is often necessary to re-sow cotton that has been sown as cotton, which is detrimental not only in terms of increased work but also due to its impact on the yield. If the source of this fungus were eradicated, this would be unnecessary. A cheap method for combating this fungus is now under consideration and will be implemented in extensive areas next spring. The aforementioned botanist has also begun studying the issue of inheritance in cotton, which is an important issue, and the results he has reached will be published in the annual book issued by the Agricultural Society.

Attention has finally turned to the issue of the quantity of cotton that can be extracted annually, and there is no doubt that the issue of the extent to which Egyptian cotton yield can be increased is of particular concern to Egypt. In my previous report (page 51), I stated that any adjustment in the balance of imports and exports between Egypt and Europe must be an increase in exports from Egypt in compensation for a decrease in imports from Europe. Therefore, I decided to investigate the future of Egyptian cotton yield. It is needless to say that I cannot claim greater accuracy and soundness for the results I have reached after consulting trusted and knowledgeable individuals in the matter.