— 90 — subsequpiitl}' aseevtaiiied to be 26.(1 inillieiues, but i(n'oiit deA'cIopiuents would point to tlie possibility of cstaljlishiiig the former fit!;ui'e as a normal standard for the cotton crop.

If the mean of two seasons (Table B) be considered, the profit from Feddan 3 practically coincides with that from Feddan 1. The appearance of the cotton in these three ])lots \\'as mncli better than that of any other on the farm.

Feddan 3 produced well-grown, sturdy, vigorous plants with numerous lateral branches.

Feddan 2 was very patchy and uueveii owing to the irregularities in the ground.

In Feddan 1 the growth was too luxuriant. The weight of bolls was more than the stems could sustain, and in many cases they snapped.

A study of the condition of the soil revealed the fact that the amount of water given to Feddan 1 was so excessive as to be a hindrance to both cultivation and the grf)wth of the crop during the early stages. The surface actually never became dry between waterings, and thorough horse-hoeing and cleaning was impossible.

Picking was rendered very difficult by the muddy ground and the fact that the plants were interlaced and lodged in most cases.

Feddan 2 showed these features in less degree than No. 1, but for practical purposes may be classed with it.

Feddan 3, however, was always workable between waterings, except when rains coincided with a watering, and picking was not hampered by excessive growth. The cotton in this section took 189 days to mature.

It may thus be pi'ovisionally stated that the ajjplication of 300 cubic metres of water at intervals of ten days has proved the most suitable system of irrigation for cotton in this district.

Distance of Planting.—Areas of 10 feddans are set apart each season for this experiment, and the following spacings are employed : Fed. 1— 1211 cm.

Fed. 2— 90 ,, Fed. 3— 90 „ Fed. 4— 90 „ Fed. 5—120 „ An average of the yields obtained during the last three seasons places Feddan G at the top of the list. {Vide Chart No. o.) This is a fairly T)vide spacing -100 cm. between ridges and 45 cm. between plants. This gives approximately 9,300 hills to the feddan, or an area of '45 square metres per hill. Each hill carries two plants. It has been found in Egypt that '' two plants to the hill give about 10 per cent, higher yield than a 45 cm.