The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-15

p!ss Fam Fsap's''al]E,b sMSijNp BURKE.
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES.
Rio de Janeiro, October 10, 1916.
SIR Yours OF June 10th was duly received and reply
to it at my earliest convenience am greatly obliged by
your Acknowledgements for the tobacco Seeds and by the
attention which you have paid to their distribution
gard the Patent Office he appropriate medium for the
introduction of seeds into our country" and as
rendering valuable service than when properly
subscribing that important object belongs to all the
great interests OF country and should be the hand
maid alike OF our agriculture horticulture, commerce,
You ask for s'small quantities of and valuable
seeds suitable for field and garden cultivation, which
may be found in Brazil" regret to say that yet
have found such seeds plants here suitable to the
open field and garden culture of the u States None OF the
Indigenous plants would survive climate, and the
seeds OF almost every vegetable consumed this country
imported from Europe and from the United States,
and such we have already, from Africa or
Indigenous and such cannot grow, except hot
houses understand you to plants valuable for
common and suited to the open air not such merely
sought by florists and botaniss For that descrp
ton have been looking out; but though the earth here
teens with every variety of wonderful and beautiful
valuable can be ransplanted from tropical cline to our
temperate zone have noticed here pea which may
be valuable and which might live in Florida. 1t grows
formed bush some eight or ten feet high and is
ever blooming bearing 1t is small and dry, but is
used in the ripe and green state both for the table, and is
good vegetable, either hulled in the husk think it
southern plantations for stock grazing will procure
some pods, and send them to you.
see here, also, grass called the "Angola grass"
which is the "capm' of the Brazilians, constituting
their chief green food for horses and cattle Its great
value is, that stands drought in hot climate and sandy
soil grows in rich soil to immense height single
But usually grows three or four feet high and is then
cropped II is perennial and not allowed to seed. As
soon the stubble is hoed into the ground and it
springs anew from the Joints It is succuent and brous
and yields large volume Of grass but is not good for
cured hay nor very nucous but it is excellent to sup
ply green food in hot and dry climate, low dry,
and sandy soil | am it has use Of great lmpor-
lance in the southern portions OF the United States but
am not sure that it is not there already North it would
require p be sown every spring and summer IN the
tropics, it perennial and takes root from the joints like
our wiregw 1t has long and broad leaf, and is very
Iuxuaut 1t would not be good for hay, but would be,
think, fine for food, and for green cropping and
lining. will try to send you some tufts OF it.
have never seen any the cotton of which you speak
from the banks OF the Amazon, in the interior of Brazil
That about Rio de Janeoro grows very high and is OF
long STAPLE ad Ina es s imam GGs
hosiery, whilst is more fit for the sheetng and CLOTH
in the factories of Europe. II would be well for us to
have it and toty it's growth IN soils and climates suitable
will endcyor to procure seeds OF every species of cotton
and rice
am sorry to say that the cereal grains nearly
quite all degenerate in this country, from neglect and
cuu Here st me nst sa aSsr
tre Of the different parts of the eahs surface Accord
this the q heat e q
first parallel south, in the southern hemisphere is about
is degrees in South America The first north, in the
Rmerea touchpg he EXTREME point Il Florida The
second parallel south embraces about IS degs. from 10
degs to 80 degs with Rio de Janeiro in the centre The
second parallel north embraces about 10 degs in the long
tude Of Florida running from the extreme point that pen
nsua TO about 80 deg north. embracing the whole OF Flo
rida and parts Of Alabama, mississippi. Louisiana and
'rCt
ture showing that though there is frost in Florida and
none here vet the average annual heat OF that region
and of the whole OF the lands OF the Gulf OF Mexico
the same with the annual average heat OF Rhode Janero
This accounts for its being much more hot and much
more subject yellow fever in Cuba and other islands
of the West Indies than it is here though they and Rio
are relatively in nearly the degrees of latitude north
and south regard to these facts may be Of great i'm
porancc to the capitalists who may have the means oil
developing the utmost agricultural capabilities OF our ex
IRENE southern sections. would gladly receive orders
from any Of them to aid whilst in Brazil, the vast de-
vel0pments which have not doubt might be made IN
our extensive southern country 1t would be well to in
stlte experiments upon temperature running east and
west az well az north and SOUTH the lines of the Gull
OF Mexico speak, of course of southern assimilation
OF productions to those of this country because climate
and affection must regulate this denstion OF good
to our common country God knows that would, from
this sunny clme think and suggest as carefully JACK
Frost would permit how to benefit my native land OF
and snow az how to make another useful plant to grow
in lands already fragrant with some al the fruits and
flowers of the tropics But, bythe-by must say that
think temperate already far supasses in vegeta
bic Injuries any tropical dimes which have yet seen
Much for commerce and luxury both might be introduced
into extreme southern country from Brazil Why
not coffee Tapioca, mandioca, the great varieties Of
fruits and particularly the the
and the nnumerabe silk and Manila grasses for baggng
and ropes A Brazilian friend has promised to furnish
me with seeds of the jacarandA reehat beautiful black
ebony-ke wood which far srpasses, in my TASTE ht
mahogany. These when received, will send to you
The nuga" tree, also, Of this country might be intro
duced is beautiful shade grows large as ou
hickory and bears nut very similar but larger. which
the hickory in the bark, and the sycamore IN the leaf
The truth is, one is COMPOUNDED by the question wha
plants to send home such their numbers. varieties
uses and beauties and the doubts respecting their standing
our climate send you small parcel OF some species
of acacia The small pods Of beautiful flower, ant
the large red seeds Of tree like the locust
! In word, will do all can to meet your wishes t.
make the Patent Office usefH to our whole country
Nothing but extraordinary expense would compel me t.
send to you bill Of charges for such services ow'
them to the country. will attend to the packing o
seeds as you direct
i will cheerfuly distribute any seeds you send to me
Garden vegetable seeds most sodght after by all
thank You for the copy of your report and am proud tina
friend of mine found 40 competent and worthy Y
take and fill the place of your worthy predecessor, Mr.
Ellsworth accept and will cherish the token OF you
private and personal respect and esteem
have the honor to be, very respectfully your obedlen
and obliged humble servant,
Hon f. BURKE, Commissioner Of the Patent Office
! Washington, ID. C. ht