RIO LECTURE 223 



This terminated the address of Mr. Pearse and Mr. Lj^ra Castro 

 expressed to the lecturer the thanks of the Society. He also explained 

 that the President — Mr. Miguel Calraon — owing to illness was unable 

 to be present at this interesting meeting. 



Mr, Lyra Castro stated that the Society had, for a long time, 

 shown interest in the improvement and development of cotton cultiva- 

 tion, having in 1916 initiated and organised the Cotton Conference 

 from which resulted various recommendations, some of which had 

 again been emphasised by Mr. Pearse. 



It had indeed been a pleasure to him to have heard from such an 

 authority advice which in so many directions confirmed the ste]:>s 

 suggested in these resolutions, some of which had been executed by 

 Public Bodies and the balance of the resolutions they were pressing 

 hard to see them become effective. 



Mr. Lyra Castro referred to the steps taken by the present 

 Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, which was in the 

 hands of a devoted and experienced agriculturist who had cotton at 

 heart, and after referring to the Cotton legislation initiated recently by 

 the Cotton Department of the Government pointed out that some 

 time would elapse before Brazil would enjoy the fruits from this 

 organisation and before the National welfare would benefit. 



Mr. Lyra Castro, upon terminating his remarks, exjjressed again 

 on behalf of the National Agricultural Society sincere thanks to Mr. 

 Pearse. He also thanked the audience for the most attentive manner 

 in which they had listened and expressed his satisfaction at seeing 

 present the Ministers of Agriculture and War, as well as many Senators, 

 Deputies and other Members who, by their presence lent added honour 

 and charm to the occasion. 



His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture again spoke, express- 

 ing his high appreciation for the simple, natural and very instructive 

 lecture delivered by the representative of the International Cotton 

 Mission. He continued : " Those who know the resolutions of the 

 Cotton Congress and the steps taken by the Government since the 

 organisation of the Cotton Department will, no doubt, realise that the 

 Government is carrying out the programme outlined. Brazil is a very 

 vast country. Mr. Pearse has only seen 1,000 plantations, whilst we 

 have to calculate with millions, which shows that the improvement of 

 our position depends on many varying elements, often beyond the 

 action of the Ministry." 



His Excellency then referred in a general manner to the special 

 legislation needed, to the alteration of systems required owing to more 

 modern processes and to the difficulties of introducing these over so 

 vast an area. He assured the audience that all this would be over- 

 come, but he thought that besides official action it would be a great 

 advantage if private initiative were to co-operate and that the col- 

 laboration of such highly appreciated experts as the lecturer to 

 whom the audience had listenecl was a great step towards their realisa- 

 tion. 



The Minister then dwelt upon the great benefits which are bound 

 to result from the manner in which the Mission had carried out its 

 Avork. calling meetings of farmers, merchants, prefects and all interested 



