, 1892-09-17
SUGAR CULTIVATION IN EGYPT.

Cairo, Aug. /.
An interesting note by Mr.. R. Hamilton
Lang, C.M.G, Controller Of the Daira Sanleh
upon the results of the year 1891 shows how,
under skilful management, this administration
which during the previous five years, had been
a drain upon the Egg ptian Treasury to an ex-
tent varying from &75 900 to E265, 900 an
lually, has been transformed into a source of
revenue. In 1891 ityielded.&38 900 profit after
paying 4 per cent. interest on the Daira debt
OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS millions sterling. The
three controllers, a native, all EDglishman
and a Frenchman, have the management of
$4,000 acres of land, of which 1901 900 are
waste. Sugar-cane, alternated with cereals,
Is grown over about $50, 900 acres, situated in
Upper Egypt, eff which over 10000 acres are
always under sugar, which is crushed in the
mills OF tho Daira and constitutes the chief
source OF revenue. Another tract of 10000
acres, situated north of the sugar district and
IN Lower Egypt, produces the usual cereal
crops and yielded a net profit varying from 3s.
I'd. to lis, and averaging 5s. Sd. per acre.
The system adopted by the controllers,
which Is The only right one for properties of
such magnitude, is to lease the lands to cult
vatorS rather than cultivate them directly,
and last year they leased 309,0O acres and
cultivated direct or on Joint account with ten
ants, only $4,000 acres. The controllers fix u
uniform price at which their tenants are bound
to deliver to the factories all the canes grown
on the sugar estates, and this price enables
the tenants to support their families and to pay
q rent to the Dalra, which then makes a profit
ON the manufacture of the sugar. The Daira
gives all necessary assistance to its tenants by
supplying, ploughing, seed, irrigation, &c,
and though its leases contain all the usual
stringent clauses. it invariably exercises great
forbearance towards all deserving tenants-a
principle found to be advantageous to both.
improvements to the machinery and in the
processes of manufacture, and also close super
vision over the cultivation and all details, are
among the methods by which the administra-
ton has attained an unanticipated success.
Their total production of sugar in 1891 was
6o,728 tons. Very much more could be grown,
out the existing machinery could not work
more during the "a aud As hours between the
cutting of the cane and its crushing, q period
which cannot be exceeded without causing do.
terloration. Mr.. Lang forecasts an increase
of surplus to E66, 900 for 1892.
The example of the Daira Sanieh has Undue
ed a privat g company, with a capital Of
RlZO,0 900 to start sugar growing and manu-
NPOA WV NNASCB Ai4 GAOJ OApOCL W
put their crop on the market next January.
Upper Egypt is very well adapted for sugar
cultivation on a large scale, and it 10 q more
remunerative crop than cereals, but the large
outlay necessary for machinery puts it out of
the power of the natives, and Europeans are
afraid of sinking capital in Egypt while it's
political future is so uncertain. This consider
ton paralyzes all spirit of private enterprise
and, although it ia some time since the word
evacuation has been heard in Parliament on
amy important occasion, a dread has prevailed
since the elections that it may again come TO
the fore and cause anxiety. throughout Egypt.
1t is, of course. difficult to get an outspoken
opinion from natives upon a political question;
but they show in various ways their appre-
citation of the improvement in tEeir condition,
and as regards the 100, 900 foreigners settled
in the country, engaged in commercial, indus,
trial. and professional pursuits, there are very ,
few who do not fear thatany interruption of the