36 I may here mention the interesting fact that in 1915 a number of young egrets, reared in the aviaries of the Zoological Department of the Ministry of Public Works, were set at liber and began to breed. The egret, one of the most valuable insectivorous birds in ifeypt, haoMbeen all but exterminated. This beautiful species, in the protection of which Lord Kitchener took a particular interest, is now fully protected. Small flocks of egrets are already again a common sight 1x> travellers in the Delta, and there is every reason to suppose that they will soon become abundant throughout the country.

16. Cotton.

As the preceding table shows, the yield of cotton per feddan has varied considerably during, the past six years, and has been at a lower average than in the five previous years. The decrease is probably due to several causes; the attacks of the pink boll-worm, the larger area of Sake! (as the Sakellarides variety of cotton is currently called) which gives a smaller though more valuable crop than the older varieties, the deterioration of land through over-cropping, the extension of the cotton area into poorer zones, such as the extreme north of the Delta, and climatic conditions. Any or all these reasons may have affected the crop, but the chief causes are believed to be the pink boll-worm, wliich has reduced the second and third pickings, and the increased cultivation of Sakel.

The following table gives the percentages of cotton crop of different varieties. It will be observed that Sakel has shown a marked increase at the expense of all other varieties except Ashmuni, which has held its place steadily at about 20 per cent. The latter variety was grown exclusively in Upper Egypt till 1918, when a new variety was introduced, which is called Zagora; it is very similar to Ashmuni and is a slightly heavier cropper; although quite new, it is said to be already falling into disfavour in some places. In Lower Egypt, Sakel has been grown almost exclusively, owing to the prices which it has commanded during the war. The Egyptian crop' thus practically represents at present only two varieties of cotton. Arrangements have been made, however, with the State Domains to maintain a good nucleus of Assili seed in order to be able to propagate it again should there be a fresh demand for that type DISTRIBUTION of Varieties of Cotton.

Variety. 1914. 1016. 1910. 1917. 1918. 1919.

MitAfifl .. Sakollaridos Ashmuni .. Toanovich.. Nubari Assili Abbnssi Others Fed dans.

467,360 394,403 363,882 127,532 261,775 134,103 12,281 3,944 Per cent.

20 -6 22 -4 20 7 16 7 0 0-2 Peddans.

209,660 647,923 231,039 28,908 100,634 49,645 7,408 4,337 Per cent.

17-7 46-2 19-0 2'4 9-0 4-2 O'O 0-3 Feddans.

141,440 1,032,140 343,589 4,220 02,127 66,602 3,391 1,997 Per cent.

8-6 62 -3 20 -8 0-3 3-4-0-2 0-1 Feddans.

96,675 1,133,180 361,874 1,592 39,339 38,008 3,489 3,153 Per cent.

5-7 67 21 0 2 2 0 0 Feddans.

30,240 952,-181 273,930 223 21,687 20,736 4,871 5,498 Per cent.

2 >8 72 -4 20 -8 Feddans.

36,146 1,140,443 334,160 97 23,611 21,003 3,718 9,485 Per cent.

2-2 72-9 21 -3 The following table gives the average price obtained per kantar (for all varieties of cotton combined), and the total estimated value of the cotton crop during the last six years:— Year.

Average Price in Dollars per Kantar.

1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 Total Estimated Value of Cotton Crop.

15.494.000 18.416.000 38.267.000 48.478.000 35.866.000 76.202,040* * The figures are for the period from the 1st September to the 30th January, 1920.

In order to maintain the purity of each variety of cotton, more particularly at a time when the best seed is at a high premium, legislation is being prepared by which House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.