The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-08
Agriculture In Egypt.
THE YIELD OF cosToN.

The British Consul at Alexandria has made
an official report on the present condition Of
Egyptian agriculture. He says the agricul-
tural industry of the country has been 80 en-
tirely diverted from the rotation of crops in its
normal state that any person now going
through the country to take view Of the pro-
duce of the soil would be altogether misled
The enormous profits which were realized by
the growth of cotton during the American war
have caused this. When the Cotton Supply AS
sociation sent out their secretary, DR.. Forbes,
to India, those gentlemen were bearers of o
memorial to the late viceroy, Said Pacha,
praying his hig ghness to use every possible eff
fort to encourage the cultivation of cotton
The reply was characteristic, and evinced a
correct impression and almost prophetic
dread of the revolution that would be produc-
ed by an immoderately enhanced price for cot
ton He said: "Prices alone will prove q
sufficient stimulus without any effort on my
part but God forbid that L should ever see the
abandonment of the ordinary succession of
crops for the production. of cotton, to, the ex!
clusion of those products on which we sub
sist."
"Withn short period from that time Egypt,
which had ever been q large exporter Of grain,
of beans, &c., had to seek food from other
countries, and became an extensive importer.
Grain was considerably dearer in the interior
than at Alexandria. In some places absolute
famine ensued. An undesirable change was
wrought the recovery from which will be as
slow as its accomplishment was rapid The
value of land was quadrupled; wages rose in
on equal ratio laborers earned 80 easily suf-
fcient for their wants that they became indo-
lent; an excessive luxury sprang up, and that
not of nature to benefit the commercial
world, being displayed in demand for white
slave-girls, costly pipes, and such other ap-
plances, which (the consul remarks) DO not
much benefit the Industrious world without.
meanwhile the land, from the constant
crops of cotton in succession, has become I'M
poverished. Cotton, however, has long been,
and must continue to be, the most important
production of Egypt 1t is sown in March OF
April, and arrives at maturity IN August or
September. An average yield, in good sum-
mers, is three hundred pounds to the acre; the
New Orleans variety has been found to yield
eight hundred pounds per acre; but 1t Is found
unmarketable, and is, therefore, little cultiva-
ted. Cotton seed has become an important
source of profit In 1868 the ardeb of two
hundred and seventy pounds sold for twenty
FIVE tariff piastres; now it sells for from sixty
FIVE to seventy-fve piastres. Formerly it was
not of sufficient value to justify its being sent
to Alexandria, and it was used as fuel; now il
is oil shipped to Europe, and from it is pressed
ON excellent oil, and from the refuse cake is
made, which is said to be more nutritious than
linseed cake. The cattle murrain, which com,
menced in Egypt before it proved so severe q
scourge in England, destroyed, the first year
| eight hundred thousand head of horned cattle
In Lower Egypt almost every animal was de,
stroyed, and it will take years to restore the
| number of animals.