40 20. Agriculture and Veterinary Education.

The Higher School of Agriculture was transferred to the control of the Ministiy of Agriculture in 1914. It provides a four years’ course, and only admits students who possess the secondary certificate. Since 1910 all instruction has been given in Arabic, which, though no doubt desirable on wider grounds, impedes the teaching of scientific and technical subjects, as translations into Arabic of an adequate number of text-books have not yet been made. A committee appointed in 1918 strongly advised that instruction in technical subjects such as entomology and botany slioula be given in English, but the suggested change has not taken place. Owing to the language difficulty, and the insufficient technical knowledge of the teaching staff, there is no doubt that the quality of the instruction given at this school falls below the proper standard; since March 1919 the students have frequently been on strike, and very little useful work has been done.

Of the three intermediate Agricultural schools, at Mushtuhur, Damanhur and Shibin-el-Kom, the first is conducted by the Government, and the others under provincial councils receiving a grant from the Government; the latter are inspected and examined by the staff of'"the Ministry of Agriculture. These schools were instituted with tne object of imparting agricultural instruction to young "men, sons of farmers, and enabling them to farm meir own lands on improved lines. This object has scarcely been attained, as the chief desire of the graduates is to obtain Government employment. A good number of useful men have joined the Ministry of Agriculture, but others have taken administrative posts in other Ministries.

There are six farm schools, intended to train boys of the peasant class in improved practical agriculture. They are conducted by the provincial councils, and are subject to inspection and examination by the Ministry, which also pays a small grant-in-aid.

In 1914 the standard of entrance certificate for the Veterinary School was raised from primary to secondary, and as the course is four years, the school is now up to the standard of a higher school, though it has not yet been declared as such. The average number of students in recent years has been forty-four. The school has been transferred to Giza, and occupies part of the Agricultural School building, where a suitable infirmary has been established for practical instruction. It is hoped that a new school building will be constructed in the near future.

HI.—PUBLIC WORKS.

21. Irrigation.

As a result of the failure of the 1913 flood, the supply of water during the spring and summer of 1914 was most inadequate. Exceptional arrangements were made to meet an extraordinary situation. The Assouan reservoir was filled to a level higher than the normal maximum, and stored water was supplied to Egypt seven weeks earlier than in any previous year; an extra storage pool was formed on the Damietta branch of the Nile by the construction of two earthen dams instead of one as hitherto; the various regulations which control the distribution of water were made more vigorous in order to prevent waste; and, except in certain small areas on the Rosetta and Damietta branches, the cultivation, of rice was sacrificed to wider interests. During all the time of shortage up to the coming of the new flood there was little complaint from cultivators. The supply from the Assouan reservoir was spread over six months, and towards the end of tfie time was doubling the natui’al volume of the river. Another factor contributing to successful irrigation was the new economy of water made possible by the recent remodelling of canal outlets to dimensions proportionate to the areas they serve. A fortunate decision to risk some damage to the cotton crop and permit the sowing of maize in Lower Egypt in July resulted in an excellent crop of maize and did no harm to the cotton as the arrival of the flood' provided sufficient water for- both.

The important projects launched in 1912 for the improvement of drainage and irrigation in the Delta were this year in full progress, but from August onwards the iinancial situation produced by the war prevented any continuance of work spe such as was necessary for the maintenance of what had already been done. Pumping House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.