142 BRAZILIAN COTTON 



A ginner complained that it would be too hard Avork to separate 

 the green Riqueza seed from the j)ile of mixed seeds in his factory- 

 It is indeed easy work for a child. (In 1905-06 the Khedivial Agri- 

 cultural Society cleared out in this way A\hat is known in Egypt as- 

 " Hindi " cotton.) A 12 h.p. Blackstone Oil Engine was driving a 

 50 blade saw-gin. 



The Moco-fibre before ginning measured 45mm., after ginning 

 it had only 37 /38mm. 



We motored to " Fazenda Joazeiro,"' in the municipality of 

 8ant"Anna do Matto. A windmill was driving the gin ; the speed 

 varying has, of course, a detrimental effect. 



The Federal Government Cotton Department had here a nice 

 demonstration field with Moc(') cotton. The trees were planted 1| by 

 l^yd. apart, but in the second year they intend to remove every other 

 row. 



We picked from one and the same branch black Moco seeds and 

 brown ones. 



We saw here the first cultivation of a dry river bed. As soon 

 as the water recedes the people owning the land on the banks plant 

 in the river bed beans. They even use stable-manure in this kind of 

 cultivation and erect fences to protect the crops from the cattle. In 

 consequence of the recommencement of the rains a great deal of damage 

 was done this year, as the river beds filled with water again and carried 

 away the recently planted crops. This kind of cultivation is called 

 " varzea." 



The rates of a mule-load are 4 to 5 milreis to Lages and 8 to Angicos. 



At a farm called '■ Sao Bento,"' the owner told us that the yield 

 was about 2501b. lint cotton per acre over an area of 30 acres. His- 

 Moco cotton measured 40mm., but was weak, the Riqueza, though 

 only 32mra., was very strong and silky. 



Our next stop was at Angicos (10,000 inhabitants) where the 

 Prefect called a meeting of the cultivators ; he explained the various 

 points at issue and we had afterwards a good discussion. 



The production of this district is about 14,000 bales (70 kilos), 

 per year. 



A " carga "" (which is a mule-load of two bales) to Lages costs from 

 here six milreis. 



Moco measured 40 to 42mm., Riqueza 35mm. and Herbaceous 

 32mm. 



Moco sheds the cotton very easily. Riqueza in this district is- 

 more attacked by insects than Moco. 



A field of Moco gave a yield of 4621b. lint per acre ; ginning: 

 percentage 33 per cent. 



There are 14 ginneries in the district. An exporter who has an 

 agent here made last year a difference of three miheis per arroba of 20^ 

 kilos seed cotton between clean and dirty picked cotton. This agent, 

 works on a commission receiving one milreis for every 100 milreis 

 cotton purchased for the exporter, the latter finds all the ready cash. 



Moco is very easily ginned ; its price, if pure, is higher than, 

 ordinary cotton. 



