FARMING METHODS IN EGYPT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144670, 3 May 1915, Page 8

FARMING METHODS IN EGYPT.

A TROOPER’S ACCOUNT In a letter to his father, Mr. M. (I. Demynmn, of Stanley Downs. Kohatu. Nelson. Sergeant S. Berryman, of the Lhh Mounted Rifles. New Zealand Expeditionary Force, gives. an interesting account of farming methods in Egypt. He writes:— The trek wo have just boon on was quite enjoyable after tho monotonous camp. All the country wo passed through was very interesting. Ail along the Suez railway is probably the finest country in Egypt, and all the crops looked splendid. 'The land is very fertile, and tiie natives are experts at irrigation. Tho crops are marvellous—chiefly barley, maize, and lucerne —and they grow so quickly that they got four crops in the year. There is no such thing as spelling a hold; as soon as one crop is olf the next one goes in. The crops are carted in by camels and donkey* instead of carls. A camel is just the thing—he lio.s down while they build the load, and then away he goes to the stack. There do not seem to be any seasons as regards fanning—everything grows and ripens all the year round. There is a tremendous quantity of barley grown. 1 haven’t seen any oats, and mast of the stock arc fed on green stulf, lucerne. The sheen here are very funny—what they call the fat-tail sheep. Some of their tails are about a toot across. There are very few white-woolled sheep; they are mostly black or piebald—but there are a great many goats about—in fact, you see every animal under the sun except a pig. The Arabs won't touch pork—they will oat anything except pig.