Arizona republican., 1922-04-23

1,012, 900 feddanS, against 1873, 900 in
1920. The variety of seed planted in
this area is 97.2 per cent Sakellaridfs,
and no other variety constitutes as
much as per cent of the Lower
Egyptian acreage. Thus it may be
stated that SAX is the single stan
dard variety OF Lower Egypt and
other varieties grown are sold as odd
lots on their own merits. Pilion, the
shorter staple variety, introduced
into Lower Egypt two or three years
ago, which was advocated on account
Of its larger yield per acre, has been
almost abandoned. and it is predicted
that the crop of 1921 will mark its
end. The discount in price of about
IL cents per pound from the price of
SAX cotton, according to current quo
tations, has rendered the production
Of Pilion Improbable and therefore
unpopular.
The Egyptian government through
its DEGREES or laws exercises a more
direct control over the acreage and
the kind Of seed planted in Egypt
than is customary in the United
States. Owing to the low price of
cotton Of the 1920 crop, the acreage
in 1921 was reduced about % per
cent. We were informed that the
cluded also the years 1922 and 1928
and that the DEGREES were considered
as final. 1t is admitted, however,
that should the sprice of cotton ad-
vance to q point that shows rea-
sonable profit on the cost of produce
ton, conditions would be changed to
such an extent that the decree limit
ing acreage would no longer be nee
essary.
Purity Well Maintained
Visits to the ministry OF agricul-
ture, the cotton research board and
it's experimental farm convinced US
that the varieties Of seed. such as
Sakellaridis, Ashmouni and Zagora,
are all maintaining their purity. Ac-
cording to the best opinion Of those
in charge OF the cotton work, seed
varieties do not break down on ac-
count Of climatic conditions in Egypt,
but the changes which have occurred
in varieties in the past are the re-
cults Of cross pollenization in the
field the mixing of cotton before
ginning, and the lack of care in main
tanning the purity of seed at the. gins.
These conditions are now being
carefully watched, strict regulations
are being enforced and it is believed
possible to maintain source for pure
varieties OF cotton, though it is ad-
nitted that the practice of selling
cotton in the seed, and its mixture
before ginning is an obstacle in the
way to the maintenance of pure bred
or carefully selected strains. We
find that the pessimistic reports
heard at the cotton conference IN
Liverpool and Manchester during
June, 1921, regarding the rundown
character or quality Of Egyptian cot
ton are not entirely borne out by the
facts. 1t Is possible that some spin
ners have bought some cheap Egyp-
tian cotton with really inferior staple,
az there are at present few small
planters, even in Lower Egypt, where
Sakellaridis is largely planted, who
are Indifferent to the character OF
the kind of planting seed they use.
Picking and Ginning
Cotton picking begins in Upper
Egypt about the middle OF August;
in Lower Egypt the latter part OF
August and the first of september.
In 1921 the picking was somewhat
delayed because Of the low prices pc
ing paid the felIaheen. or small ten
ant farmers, and their dissatisfaction
with the situation Most Of the cot
ton is picked by women and children
OF the tenant. or, when pickers are
hired. at so much per hundred POUNDS
Of seed cotton. Cotton is sometimes
also picked by day labor. when an
overseer supervises the work OF the
Iaborers. who receive about to
piasterss (from IL to 40 centsl per
day for their work. 1t is said that
the boss does not hesitate to use the
lash il the laborers are backward IN
the performance of their duties.
on the better plantations the cot
ton is carefully looked over ana
trash and discolored locks removed
before it is carried to the gin. The
small tenant farmers, or fellaheen.
do not generally follow this practice
OF picking the trash from the SEED
cotton, but put the cotton in Dags,
weighing around 800 pounds. Thesee
bags are carried to their homes ana
kept until a buyer. usually a Greek
or Egyptian, comes around and pur-
chases It, either for himself, for q
cotton buying company. or for the
ginning factory. which is frequently
q cotton buying concern.
These bags of cotton are eventual
w assembled at the gin house, care"
fully gone over and graded In the
seed. and such bags as appear 20
have the same staple and approx
y,natefy the same grade are mixed In