Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎54v] (108/176)

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Sakellaridis now represents 90-7 per cent, of the cotton grown in Lower Egypt,
no other variety accounting for as much as 1 per cent.
282. The distribution of Government seed to small cultivators on credit was
continued by the Commercial Service in 1921, as in previous years. The amount so
supplied was sufficient for 228.000 feddans, divided among 36,300 applicants. In <•
addition, the Ministry distributed 6,200 ardebs of pure seed from the State Domains
to large proprietors.
Cotton-seed Control Scheme.
283. An outstanding feature in the history of cotton in Egypt is the great
number of varieties which, after a period of commercial popularity, have, from
various causes, completely disappeared from cultivation. At the present time, Egypt
possesses a variety, Sake!, which, although botanieally not perfect, is yet, as regards
lint characters, one of the highest in the scale of the world's cottons. It is, however,
in the same danger of degeneration and disappearance as its many predecessors.
Owing to the unlimited possibilities which exist for mixing, accidentally or with
intent of the seed stocks of the different varieties, it has for some time been
considered necessary that Government should have control of the seed supply of the
country and the introduction of new varieties. Draft regulations for such control
were submitted to public bodies interested and published in the press last summer.
284. The majority of well-informed institutions and individuals welcomed these
proposals, and a law has been drafted which gives the Ministry of Agriculture the
necessary powers. It will not, however, be promulgated until the Ministry of
Agriculture is in a position to exercise the necessary control. This will not be possible
until the Ministry has its experimental stations and seed farms.
43. Insect and other Pests.
285. During the year under review, the law compelling ginning of cotton before
the end of May was relaxed, in order to allow cultivators to carry-over their crops
to the next season, or until prices should have improved. It was probably partly due
to this that the 1921 cotton crop was, as mentioned before, the worst on record since
the advent of the pink boll-worm.
286. Nine hundred and eighty gardens were fumigated against the black scale ^
(As'pidiotus aonidvrn) including 262,643 individual trees.
287. The Hibiscus mealy bug (Phenacoccus hirsutus Green), which has caused
much damage in recent years, spread somewhat during 1921, involving the Mudiria
of Fayoum. This necessitated the issue of a further arrete, declaring Cairo, the
Mudirias of Giza, Beni-Suef, and Fayoum infected and likely to transmit infection
from the above areas into those at present free. It also gave the power to carry out
control measures within the areas infected. Work in the Cairo nurseries has been
continued, and a great improvement is to be observed. The attack in the Cairo area
has been less severe this year, owing to the measures taken; and the vigorous
campaign now in general progress will reduce the infestation and relegate this
insect to the status of a minor pest.
288. A severe attack of the sugar-cane mealy bug {Pseudococcus sacchari Ckll)
occurred on the sugar-cane in Upper Egypt. The effect of this insect is to produce
gumming on the canes, which renders the juices extracted from the canes difficult
to crystallise, and reduces the sugar output.
289. One thousand gardens, containing a quarter of a million trees, were
fumigated against black scale {As'pidiotus aonidum), a pest which has much increased
of late.
290. The work of plant quarantine has proceeded as usual at the customs-house.
The Ministry of Agriculture—
(1.) Prohibits the importation of cotton plants, seeds of cotton, cotton (ginned
or unginned), vine leaves, living insects, and bacteria and fungi harmful
to plant life.
(2.) Allows importation, only after authorisation, of date-palms, banana plants,
sugar-canes, green olives, olive trees, silkworm eggs, and honey-bees.
(3.) Inspects and disinfects all imported plants, except delicate ornamental %
plants.
(4.) Inspects and, when dangerous insects are found, fumigates all imported
fruit.