La Junta tribune., 1914-03-07
OBSERVATIONS IN BRAZIL
u. ". PattersOa Writes Interesting
Tale Of CoaditiOas In Rrazil-
No GOs,d for Farming.

Paulo. Brazil, and on January 25th.
when the accompanying letter was
written. Was the guest of J. T. Up
dixie. MIR. updike has since left for
Europe. but will probably be In La
JuntA before June lst. MIR. Patter-
son gives some interesting informa-
ton concerning farming and cattle
raising conditions In South America,
and says that the United States need
have no fear OF competition In the
beef market from any OF the South
American countries. Mr.. Patter-
sons letter is. In part. As follows:
Il have now travelled almost one
and one-half menths In Brazil. al
most 1000 miles. | have travelled
rather rapidly and have done a great
deal OF hard work In investigating
and studying the country. do not
remember Just when last wrote you
or OF what In speaking of Brazil. /
refer only to what | have travelled
through. Brazil II one of the most
| AhA 'ohhSbSS nave ever seen.
There are no more beautiful prairies,
l believe, in the world. They are
rolling. sometimes hilly. or even
mountainous, furrowed with hol-
lows. small valleys and large valleys,
in all OF which run fine. clear
streams OF water There are scat
tered throughout clumps OF trees.
groves, patches of woods. forests of
timber. In the heads of the valleys.
on the ribs OF the hills and noun
| tains and on their tops, the most
beautiful and picturesque land
scapes. These prairies are covered
with a luNuriant growth OF thick.
tall grass. To an American. these
countries appeal a. the great future
grain and meat countries OF the
luorid. ! had 80 thought at first. but
upon close examination and study OF
the soil and products my vision Of
an Illinois and an Iowa in Brazil
faded like dream. The praisie ss,il
Is not fertile ahd win aot Yield 70 the
plox. the planter or seeder and the
culttSator. II viii not produce corn.
wheat or oats. nor any other world
crop. Their is no humus In the soil.
| There Is. now and then. . dark, thin
layer on the surface. but the soil. ss
rule. n red from the grass roots
down and Of uniform texture and
physical properties. Then the grasses
that look 40 inviting are mostly OF
little value for pasture and grazing
Tn. principal srass which covers the
prziries all through Rio Grand~ de-
Sui and the states OF Santa Catharns
and Paraca is = hard. tough. vigor-
Gus bunch grass with a needl~-lik.
filmy seed. with spears. called goats
psiatabi- and without much nour-
ishinE quality.
! thought the reason tn. prairies
are not farmed throughout tn. thou
sands OF miles OF my journey. WAS
owing to the Incidence. lzIin.ss and
stupidity Of the natives. but when !
| Waited the German colonies. the Ital-
Ian and Jewish colonies and found
them Grubbink up aud clearing un-
trav~rxAbl- woods aud making farms
upon the steep hiiirid-s and noun
tain sides. when by them were these
b-autifui rolling prairi--. I knew at
once that they must not be- good AZ
ricuiturxi lands. WAS not even
then wholly satisfied. hut made an
Investigation where tn. prairtcs were
actually being farm~d and there !
found demonstration. Th-s. prairics
may be- made productive b-li.v.
they can. and profitabiy. too-by the
proper use Of fertilizer. This viii
come late: but II viii never b~ done
by these Brasiiians or other South
Americans. They are good for or.
anx-s. r~rbs mate. the oOrsxuoyar
tea. peaches and other trr~s. but not
At pr-r,n, for grains. POTATOES. man.
| dioca. melons. beans. vegetables. etc.
MandiOra II n root which varies from
one to two aud on--hsif inches In
thickness and from six inches To
| eighteen inrhc. In length. II ia =
rtch starch food. very nutritious for
man and b-ss, and very productive.
| ! am fond of Il.
The cattle are of poor grade. like
the southern Texas cattle oi thirty
years ago. rough. long horns. small.
aud hut little beef. In Paraguay and
Maito Crosse the cattle are better:
stili there are no tat cattle IN Brasil
snd no cattle for the packing house.
Notwithstanding this. packing
house In heinz no~ built here near
sso Pauio. asked the engineer