Problems in Egyptian

Item Type Article

Authors Mehrez, A. G.

Publisher College of Agriculture, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)

Journal Arizona Agriculturist

Rights Copyright © Arizona Board of Regents. The University of Arizona.

Download date 27/09/2021 19:54:17

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/302915 · ..·• ·•··.. · ..·•··•··•.. • .. •··•··•··•··•··•··•··•··•· z � ; i ! ARIZONA AGRICULTURIST j i •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ,...... •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• t .T. i VOL. II MARCH, 1925 No. 3 i t !

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PROBLEMS IN EGYPTIAN AGRICULTURE

By A. G. MEHREZ, '25 Egyptian Seem to be Confronted with Problems Similar To Those of Our State-In This Article the, Writer Has Endeavored to Briefly Outline the Methods Adopted in Egypt to Solve These Problems � UE to the similarity of the � climate, variety of , and weather conditions of Egypt and parts of Arizona, there is considerable resemblance in the problems pertaining to agriculture. ) Xmong these being the prob­ Ilems of alkali control, , maintenance of and de­ te ioration of cotton varieties. In this short article it will be impossible for me to discuss all these problems in full, but instead, I shall try to reveal some of the most important methods in the handling of these problems in Egypt, which will probably be of some interest to the farmers of this state.

While tilling has been gomg on in Egypt for centuries, it is a compar­ atively new industry in this state, thus the Egyptian is very well acquainted with the methods of agri­ culture that has been handed down to him through generations. However, the advancement of science has en­ AN AIROPLANE VIEW OF THE ELKHARIA BARRAGE SITUATED AT THE abled the farmers of Arizona to solve DELTA OF THE NILE. in a short time many problems that the base of the Delta. Upon building of a rotating wheel that carries water would have otherwise taken genera­ this structure it was found that the in buckets to the surface above. These tions. water was not sufficient to the of devices are o.A.JZ_ supply types still in use, but f\ has been a Irrigation very impor­ needs of the canals, therefore, the replaced to a large extent with the tant factor in this state as well as � betvgen Cairo and Elkharia was modern machinery. Egyptian - in which Egypt depends entirely upon deepened." In later years it was found ers usually prefer steam engines on the river Nile for all its water supply. n�y to strengthen the founda­ account of their durability and high l. Several thousand the course years ago tion of the barrage by boring holes power, although the gasoline tractor of the Nile was in order to changed through the immense structure and is commonly used where large areas a better have distribution of water. driving steel bars to a considera.ble are cultivated. The use of the tractor At that time the of the Nile valley depth. The Asswan Dam was built is a failure when cultivating small was divided into compartments of for the(reservatiorJ of water for sum­ areas due to the large number of 2000 to 6000 acres and the flood sys­ mer use, and, altJi'ough(beinwexpens­ cheap laborers, and is used only for tem was accordingly practiced. The ive to maintain, it has put over a saving time rather than cost. is still in use in some dis­ system million acres of arable land under The alkali situation is lessened to tricts in Upper Egypt. With the rise Most of these permanent agriculture. a great extent in various ways, the for the need of more extensive agri­ structures were built before the Brit­ most important among these being dams were built to culture, (reserv� ish occupation, and served to raise drainage. The land is divided into the water supply during the Nile the water so that it would run on small areas generally 10 to 20 acres flood. Barrages' were also construct­ the arable land, thus lessening the and surrounded with drainage ditches ed for the distribution of water pumping expenses. and canals. The tile system is used through artificial branches from the At the present time there are many to a to its Nile. Among these barrages is the pumping devices in Egypt, among very slight degree owing Elkharia Barrage which is situated at these being the "Saki" which consists (Continued on Page 14.) 14 ARIZONA AG1UCULTURIST

PROBLEMS IN EGYPTIAN Station is also ready for distribution. AGRICULTURE The author is Prof. G. E. P. Smith and he has entitled his work, A Dis­ (Continued from page 3) - cussion of Certain Colorado River high cost and the rise of the water Problems. Some interesting facts on table during the flood of the Nile. one of our greatest natural assets The application of water in rice grow­ may be obtained from this bulletin. ing is largely done for the removal of alkali and to increase the soil .mois­ THIRD ANNUAL ture. Leveling is also accomplished FEEDERS' DAY rice cultivation. The land is di­ by RADIOLA NO. 3-$35.00 vided into small areas from one to With Tubes and The Third Annual Cattle Feeders' Headphones two acres and carefully leveled and will be held at the Mesa Farm subdivided into small basins. Other Day SEE THE NEW this year on March 23rd. At this crops such as sorghums are planted WINDSOR CONSOLE time Prof. Animal Husband­ for their alkali resistance. Rotation Stanley, LOUD SPEAKER TABLES man of the University of Arizona, III of crops is also used for an indirect will a lecture on the methods effect in this follow­ give Mahogany and Walnut. used and results obtained. The cattle An In-built Loud of ing rotation is ad pted by the Speaker m�d used in the tests will be on Resonant Wood ministry of agriculture:CO,�)ction.0he feeding exhibition. (1) Berseem and cotton. RADIOLA The lamb test carried on (2) Legume (berseem or horse feeding FRESHMAN beans and rice or corn. by Prof. Stanley was completed on PFANSTIEHL and the results of this (3) Barley or wheat. February 15, Radio Sets Repaired should be of vital interest The supply of manure is always con­ experiment Aerials Erected to the feeders of the Salt River Val­ stant on the Egyptian , it be­ ing derived from the large number ley. Tucson Radio Co. The will start of which are kept for work­ meeting promptly at 326 N. 4th Ave. P. on ing rather than meat production. This 1:30 M. at the Mesa Farm PHONE 1698 item should be considered and empha­ March 23rd. sized in the (replacemer;t of machinery in Egyptian agriculture. As yet, the livestock industry 13 not developed in Egypt due to the lack of pasture land, although are kept to a consid­ erable extent for the consumption of waste products. The question of the deterioration of Egyptian cotton, if such be the case, is due mostly to economic conditions as well as agricultural causes. With little difference of prices paid for several short staple and long staple varieties of cotton, it has led the farmer to pay more attention to quan­ tity rather than quality. Deterior­ ation is also caused by the farmers 2 failing to keep up with the community farming and neglect in the constant selection of varieties. This condition of deterioration will be entirely re­ moved when more consideration is Anything you want to know about painting given to standardization of cotton. or decorating you can find out here, freely, without obligation. You will find our advise NEW BULLETIN READY practical and it will save you money. Extension Circular No. 49 is ready for circulation. This circular will "Buy your' paints from Practical Painters" be of interest to those desiring data on grafting methods. A. F. Kinni­ POSNER PAINT STORE son, who is now Citrus Specialist at ARTISTS' MATERIALS the University, is the author. Of special notice in this circular is the ·233 E. Congress St. Tucson, Ariz. Biederman Bark Grafting Method as PHONE 591 applied to top working. Another publication, Bulletin No. 100, of the Agricultural Experiment