Edible Products. 



76 



exception, and then generally consist of maize. No manure is used. No Gov- 

 ernment scientific help is given to planters. Abandoned plantations have become 

 so from old age and want of cultivation, and are hopelessly gone. The only 

 cultivation bestowed on coffee is keeping the trees free of weeds. Coffee trees 

 ten years old are in their prime. 



Crops and Curing. —A tree takes three years to come into bearing, 

 and continues for 30 years. There are three blossomings a year — in August, 

 September and October — and if these fail and there is rain there will probably 

 be a fourth. 



The crops are picked carelessly, the branches or twigs being stripped 

 by running the hand down. Coffee is cured either by drying on a drying 

 ground or is pulped. The yield in Sao Paulo is calculated at 200 arobas (the 

 aroba being 32^ lbs.) the alqueire of land. Full grown trees are affected to a 

 certain extent after a heavy crop. Auts damage the trees. 



Financial.— The system is by advauces on crops and mortgage at 12 per 

 cent. The present low prices leave a profit. The lower the exchange the more 

 milreis are received as the price of coffee, so these crops represent gold. The 

 higher the exchange the less profit is made, as expenses are paid in milreis 

 and have not altered. 



The financial condition of the majority of the estates is bad, and the 

 general opinion as to the future of the industry is gloomy. No Government 

 financial help is yet given. It is not likely that India can compete with Brazil 

 in the production of coffee whilst the supply exceeds the demand. 



Climate and Physical Features.— Tropical, steamy, relaxing, but the 

 climate depends on the attitude. No proper record of the rainfall in the different 

 districts. The country is hilly, broken and overgrown. 



Transport. — Extensive railroads run through coffee districts and connect 

 with principal ports. F. O. B. expenses come to about 3$ per bag including 

 price of sack. Sea freights to London about 50 shillings and 2| per cent, primage. 

 A ton consists of 17 bags. 



Duties. — Export duties in Rio de Janeiro 8^ per cent., in Minas Geraes 

 9 per cent. Information obtained is often conflicting owing to the lack of reliable 

 official returns, and it is difficult to ascertain the lowest price at which the 

 production of coffee would leave a profit, as so much depends on the financial 

 position of the planter and the condition to which the plantation may have 

 been reduced by neglect or through lack of means. As a rule the planter has 

 to calculate a profit after paying off the interest on borrowed capital. 



PERNAMBUCO. 



The report from Pernambuco states that the industry there is comparatively 

 new and on a small scale. Labour is, however, very scarce. The rate of wages 

 is from 0-800 to 1 -000 for ten hours' labour. About six hands are employed to the 

 acre, and they receive no supplements to their wages. They work, on an average, 

 265 days in the year for the planters, and can help themselves very little by subsi- 

 diary cultivation on their own account. In the district there are enormous 

 uncultivated tracts suitable for the growing of coffee. These tracts are untouched 

 owing to want of capital, communications, and transport. The land could be leased 

 for - 040 (about \d.) per square metre. It is impossible, however, to say when 

 communications will be improved. The soil of the district is good, consisting of 

 black vegetable earth, clayey, loose, flat, loamy and retentive. No plantations have 

 been abandoned, but no new plantations are being opened up. The country is rich 

 in forest, both heavy timber and scrub, and the timber is often of great value. The 

 undergrowth consists of dense grass. 



