89 J A considerable amount of work has been done by the Botanical Section with a view to improving the existing types of wheat by selection and hybridisation. A number of wheats have been imported from India, Australia and elsewhere, some of which promise well. About sixty sorts are being tested, and no effort is being spared to obtain varieties which, while giving a good yield, are also immune from “ rust.” The improvement of maize is being studied, and selections made on similar lines; and a start has been made in improving rice by selection.

The following table shows the area and average yield of the sugar cane crop during the last six years :— Year. Area. Feddan.

Average Yield per Feddan.

Cane Production.

Sugar Content.

Sugar Production.

Molasses Production.

1914 1916 1916 1917 1918 1919 48,209 52,181 69,224 62,229 63,675 57,139 647 643 644 654 634 676 Kantars. 31,184,211 33,568,760 38,134,445 40,687,369 40,332,157 38,600,517 Per Cent.

12' 12' 12' 13' 12' 36 85 88 21 71 Metric Tons.

69,368 75,738 98,964 101,678 79,488 Metric Tons.

36,908 34,040 44,185 46,670 No figures available 37,330 N.B.—1 kantar = 44'928 kilog.

18. Veterinary Service.

The Veterinary Service was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture in 1914 : on the outbreak of war all the temporary British staff, and such members of the permanent staff as could be spared, joined the army.

During the last six years 2,426 outbreaks of cattle plague have occurred, resulting in 10,838 deaths. The systematic double inoculation of cattle, which was commenced in June 1912, was continued until August 1914. It was impossible to continue it after that date owing to war-time difficulties, but serum was still used' during actual attacks of cattle-plague. In 1918 experiments made with cattle on the State Domains showed that those which had been doubly inoculated in 1912 were still immune from plague. The Serum Institute, which had been closed during the war, reopened on a similar scale in 1919, and it is hoped that when a sufficient stock of serum is prepared that double inoculation will be resumed under an insurance system. The pressing demands by proprietors for double inoculation show that they have learnt to appreciate its value: 460,000 animals have been inoculated during the last eight years with only 1 per cent, of deaths.

The steady decrease in the number of cattle in the country has caused some anxiety, and a law restricting the slaughter of animals under the age of three years has not appreciably checked the decrease, which is largely attributable to the shortage of fodder during the summer months. During the last six years very few animus have arrived from abroad, except from the Soudan, whence 126,000 cattle and 690,000 sheep have been imported, almost entirely for immediate slaughtering.

19. Horticulture.

At the present time there is a most serious limiting factor to the development of all branches of Horticulture in Egypt—the scarcity of intelligent working gardeners. Horticultural education presents for the moment considerable difficulty, owing to the lack of Arabic text-books.

The Director of the Horticultural Section at Giza has, however, established an apprentice school for gardeners, where a sound practical training is given, and many of the pupils show great promise; but unfortunately the demand for gardeners is so great that the majority of the apprentices leave to take employment elsewhere before they are properly trained.

The gardens at Giza have done very useful work, especially during the war by producing seeds which could not be imported; 15 tons of vegetable seeds were sent out during the last year, as well as 80,000 young fruit trees. Many trees, shrubs and plants of ornamental and economic interest have been introduced, and during the past year 450 species new to the country had passed the seedling stage and were planted out for trial.

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