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(B.) Page no. 



Before I took leave of Brazil, I was desirous of submitting to His Royal 

 Highness some observations relative to his farm of Santa Cruz, in furtherance 

 of the project I had the honour to propose to His Excellency the Conde 

 de Linhares *, eighteen months before, for the better management of that 

 fine tract of land. These observations, of which I here present to the reader 

 an abstract, relate to two objects ; first, to the means of rendering the farm a 

 model of agricultural improvement for the planters of Brazil, and next, to the 

 improvements by which its lands from their superior quality and their con- 

 venient situation might serve, in part, to supply Rio de Janeiro with its pro- 

 ductions, and might sustain a great number of excellent cattle to be fattened 

 for the consumption of that city. I anticipated the fate of these observations 

 before I wrote them ; for practice is widely different from theory, particularly 

 to those who were never for a moment engaged in considering such subjects, 

 and are certainly incapable of comprehending them. To teach men modern 

 agriculture, who have only lived to study dress and parade, would be an 

 useless task ; for when principals are totally ignorant of what they undertake 

 or superintend, they will have neither the power nor the inclination to main- 

 tain it in credit, much less, bring it to perfection. 



Thus it is with Santa Cruz, the grounds of which are superlatively better 

 than any I ever saw in Brazil, and highly calculated for experimental and 

 general agriculture, having plains, hills, rivers, rivulets, and varieties of soil and 

 climate. 



Inclosures for the cattle, to a considerable extent, should be the first object of 

 attention. ^ Next, a quantity of land, not less than 800 or 1000 acres in situ- 

 ations subject to irrigation, should be sown with artificial grasses, particularly 

 those most congenial to it ; if this land were well managed, its produce might 

 be cut at least four times a year. A peculiar mode of planting and of 

 management would be necessary ; here the plough should be employed instead of 

 the hoe, and other methods resulting from sound practice should be resorted to. 



* It is to be observed, that by the laws of Portugal, no person can address a letter or memorial 

 of any kind to the Sovereign ; all repre'ientations must be made through the ministers. 



