19 371 diminution in the total cotton output of the country by 25 per cent, in a single veil*. In order to provide accurate data for the study of this branch of the subject, tlie areas planted with cotton were in 1909 measured in detail by the Survey Department, and similar statistics will be prepared in future 3'ears ; an investigation into the movement of the subsoil water in the Delta was also put in hand, and'it is hoped that valuable information will thus be obtained as to the action of the water in the soil on cotton and other plants. The preparation of these statistics, which entails much laborious and accurate inquiry, is rendered possible owing to the high state of efficiency to which the Survey Department has been brought under the capable administration of Captain Lyons, the late Director-General, and I take this opportunity of bearing testimony to the eminent services which Captain L}'ons has rendered to science in Egypt during his tenure of this post.

As regards the second point, it is clear that the question of seed is of the finst importance if the high quality of Egyptian cotton is to be maintained. The Agricultural Society has for some years provided ficilities to enable cultivators to obtain tnistworthy seed, and prrangements have now been made with the Domains Administration whereby a greatly increased supply of good seed of the existing vaiieties will be available next year. Further, the Society is engaged in valuable experiments for breeding new varieties of plants which may show an improvement both in quality and strength on those now sown.

As will have been seen from the facts mentioned above, the Khedivial Agricultural Society continues to render most valuable assistance to the Government in the consideration of the many difficult problems which attend the cultivation of cotton in this countiy. The Society includes amongst its members landowners from all parts of the country and its work produces results unattainable by a Government Department, however efficient. Further, it enjoy.s one special advantage in the fact that its action can penetrate more deeply amongst the smaller native cultivators, thus enabling the lessons it has to teach to be widely diffused and applied practically in the fields. The Government, on their side, have been anxious to pay every attention to the various recommendations brought forward by the Society, and it may be Imped that the combined efforts of the two will succeed in devising remedies for the various evils which affect the prosperity of Egyptian cotton.

13. Sugar and other Crops. The cultivation of sugar-cane in Egyit continues to increase, as is shown by the Let that in 1908-9, 359,000 tons of cane were produced, as compared with 253,000 in the preceding season, wdiile the supply in 1909-10 is estimated to reach as much as 500.000 tons. The percentage of yield will also probably be high in the present season, in consequence of favourable climatic conditions. The total area under sugar amounts to not less than 50,000 feddans, a considerable advance on recent vears. A good example of the revival of this industry is afforded by the Mattai factory, which was closed in the season 1907-8 for want of supplies of cane, and reopened the next year with a consumption of only 24,000 tons, but which will in the present season work 110,000 tons of native cane. The figures as to the proportions of native and foreign raw sugar used for refining show that a very considerable increase of production is still necessary before the factories can be entirely supplied from Egyptian sources. The total capacity of the Hawamdieh refinery, which supplies the whole country, is 50.000 tons of raw sugar. In 1908-9, 20,000 tons of this total consisted of Egyptian sugar, 30,000 tons being imported to make up the deficiency. In the present sea.soii the home production is calculated to yield 38,000 tons, leaving only 12,000 tons to he supplied from abroad.

With the exception of cotton, all other crops were exceptionally good in 1909, and prices fell to a normal level. The cost of forage, also, which had been in 1908 at almost a famine price, making the feeding of fiirm animals a difficult matter for the smaller cultivators, fell below the average. The maize crop, which supplies the stajfie article of food amongst the fellaheen, was extremely good, owing to the abundance of water in summer, whicii made early sowing possible.

As I have mentioned elsewhere, the Agricultural Society is arranging with the Domains Administration to import a considerable quantity of Indian wlieat for seed purpose.s. This wheat has been grown in certain parts of Egy])t for some years wdth very satisfactory results. Fresh seed is, however, now required, as that produced in file country has deteriorated. The grain resulting from the sowing of the seed which is now being imported will be available for general distribution in the following season.

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