8ERID0 151 



We came across one cotton tree, the fibres of which were 50mm. 

 in length. This farmer is particular in seed selection : he plants 

 " Moco " as pui'c as he can get it. Absolutely pure " Moco " is a thing 

 of the past. Generally the bolls of " Moco " are small, but the number 

 of them on the branches is extremely large. We have seen as many as 

 15 bolls towards the end of a branch. " Verdao " and other kinds 

 have only about four bolls at the end of a branch. 



We rode through the Valle de S. Jose do Serido to a village 

 called BoNiTA (300 metres above sea-level). It was formerly called 

 S. Jose do Serido. In this rich valley, 55km. in length and 300 

 metres in width, all the low-lands (called " Baixos ") were cultivated 

 with "Moco " cotton. From Bonita one gets a magnificent view of 

 practically the whole of the " Serido " zone, surrounded by a vast 

 amphitheatre of mountain ranges. 



At Cruzeta the three rivers, Rio Quimporo, Riacho do Meio 

 and Rio do Sao Jose (or Salgado) meet. 



At Cruzeta a huge water reservoir is in course of construction 

 at a cost of 597 contos : it is expected to be finished in 1922. 

 16,000,000 cubic metres of water will be stored there, and as the 

 Government has acquired through appropriation extensive stretches 

 of land, it is to be hoped that the Cotton Department will be allowed 

 to establish a seed farm here. The cotton from this valley enjoys a 

 good reputation. " Moco " was pretty strong, but its length varied 

 from 32mm. to 42mm. 



The system of excellent roads begins again here and from 

 Cruzeta to Natal huge motor cars, bringing material for the construc- 

 tion of the dam, travel regularly in eight hours. 



We called at Fazenda Emburanas and later at Epinal in the 

 municipality of Acary. The owner of this farm, Mr. Francisco 

 Raymundo de Aranjo, a plain " Sertanejo," has devoted more than 

 ordinary attention to the cultivation of cotton. He has his own 

 experimental grounds and keeps records of the behaviour of the plants ; 

 he does scientific work by instinct. He assured us that an excep- 

 tionally large " Moco " tree had given 3,065 bolls =9-45 kilos seed 

 cotton in the fifth year. 



This farm had 25 hectares of " Moco " cotton on " Taboleira " 

 land and 9 hectares on " Baixo." On the " Taboleira " the yield of 

 lint per acre worked out to 310 to 3201b. The trees ^\'ere planted 1 • 50 

 by 2-20 metres. The trees last from 10 to 15 years. The first 

 bolls open in June, but the main crop is in July to September and 

 onwards to the end of the year and even January. This farmer had 

 found water 10 metres below the surface and had endeavoured to 

 trace the length of the roots, but had not succeeded ; he had had 

 roots two metres in lengths, but thought they must go deeper. 



Mr. Raymundo was one of the first who used the " Taboleira " land 

 for cotton. He plants his trees in January or February, when any 

 re-planting is necessary. 



Planting is undertaken at a time when there have been at least 

 two falls of rain ; he plants his seed in a hole, 12 inches lower than 

 the surface, so that the water collects round the plants. Near the 



