'Mesopotamia' [‎70v] (140/152)

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ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
(No. 92
Mesopotamia is, it is true, hotter and drier than most
cotton-producing countries, but not more so than Upper
Egypt, where cotton is now successfully grown.
The soil of Mesopotamia contains a good propor
tion of phosphorus, potash, and nitrogen, but a very
large percentage of lime (12 to 14 03 per cent.) the
effect of which on cotton-growing cknnot be satisfac
torily foretold, although cotton is cultivated in some
parts of America where the percentage is higher. The
soil, a deep loam of a light nature, not retentive of
water, but needing a plentiful supply, is precisely the
kind most suitable for cotton.
Cotton-growing in Egypt brings in 7 to 8 per cent.,
but in Egypt there is good communication and a teem
ing population. Returns in Mesopotamia would be
slower, and the labour supply is much more limited. It
is also considerably cheaper, but the natives would
expect to receive a proportion of the crop.
Other directions in which expansion has been sug
gested are—
(1) In the natural products of the country, i.e., gall-
nuts, liquorice, and gum tragacanth.
(2) In the export of dried fruits.
(3) In the trade in wool. It must be remembered
that sheep-farming is the natural occupation of
the Arabs, and is to-day the principal source of
livelihood of the nomad and semi-nomad tribes,
and irrigation schemes must be conceived so as
to conserve for afforestation and pasturage large
areas in addition to those under cultivation.
The possibilities of sheep-farming in Mesopo
tamia are prodigious, since not only the wool
but also the skins are known and approved in
European markets, and the quality could doubt
less be improved considerably if expert know
ledge were available.
Under the head of industries small development is
to be looked for until much more is known about the
mineral resources of Mesopotamia than is known to
day, and the country will remain for a long time essen
tially agricultural.