- 58 -11 - Cotton The 1913 season did not meet expectations based on the favorable weather conditions in early summer and the scarcity of the cotton worm. The first picking was very good, but the infestation of the *anbal* cotton, which arrived at the worst possible time, damaged the soil. The cotton bolls opened prematurely, resulting in a reduced second picking and a lower yield, with many fibers and immature seeds. The current estimate for the harvest is based on the November projection, which is 755,400 qintars.

Cotton prices in the season were initially higher than the previous year, but then declined despite the shortage in the American crop. Prices are unlikely to rise as long as there are significant delays in Alexandria.

The area planted with cotton increased by only 1,279 feddans compared to 1912. The following table shows the amount of each type of cotton planted in 1912 and 1913.

| Cotton Variety | Area in Feddans 1912 | Area in Feddans 1913 | Increase or Decrease from 1912 | |---|---|---|---| | Mit Afifi | 623,737 | 261,910 | -68,173 | | Ashmouni | 344,265 | 356,485 | +12,220 | | Nuftch | 339,332 | 173,439 | -65,793 | | Sakellaridis | 197,456 | 247,792 | +49,836 | | Nubari | 158,567 | 201,137 | +42,570 | | Assili | 39,836 | 65,958 | +26,122 | | Abbasi | 36,354 | 37,383 | +1,079 | | Fowanes and others | 14,195 | 17,663 | +3,468 | | **Total** | **1,721,815** | **1,723,094** | **+1,279** |