Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-03-01
harvesting the Coffee Crop.

Harvesting tn
prepared by the National Geographic So
On the gentle sioping hillsides Of the
northern portion OF a single state OF
the great Brazilian republic there are
some 7OO.OOO,OOO coffee trees. Here
on the famous rich, red soil (terra
rossa), under extraordinarily favorable
\ climatic conditions, the state OF Sac
/ Paulo is producing annually close TO
I three-quarters of the worlds total
coffee crop. Small wonder IL Is that
this state ranks so high in the num-
Der and in the character OF It's pOpu-
latiOn; In the development OF its rail-
roads; I'm its general commercial and
Industrial activity. Small wonder is
Il that the city OF Sac PaulO is so full
OF life and energy; that Santos has be-
I come so famous port, that the Santos
docks and the Sac PaulO railway at
tract so many visitors. Coffee is the
handspring OF all this development.
Co1fee is the prevailing topic Of con-
versatiOn. Coffee Is the key to the
financial situation. Coffee IS king.
As a famous waterfall. or an i'm
mense steel plant, or a great forest, or
a wonderful view attracts the traveller,
so this remarkable Brazilian coffee dis
trict has a fascination all its own for
the "elObe-trotter," or for the more
leisureIy traveller who seeks TO know
something more definite about our
South American neighbOrs; or. more
particularly. for any one 10 whom
mans achievements in changing the
face of nature by making the earth
produce what he needs and what he
finds profitable are a source Of salts
faction and inspiration.
Journey Of Great Interest.
The heart Of the coffee country can
be reached ia less than three weeks
from New York. The voyage TO and
from Rio Janeiro is a delight which
cannot fail to satisfy even those who
are not naturally lovers OF the sea-
What can be more ideal for any one
who is tired out with the wear and
tear OF busy life than that voyage
Of two weeks from New York TO Rio.
bright skies Of the tOpics2
From Rio de JaneirO a journey OF
about eight hours takes the traveller
across the coast range Of mountains
(Serra do Mari and along the valley
Of the Parahyba river to the city Of
Sac FaulO, which lies in a position Of
Immense advantage to it's commercial
development. From the city Of Sac
Paulo the heart of the coffee country
Is reached In a short days journey
along one OF the lines Of railroad which
60 in a northerly or nOrthwesterly di-
rection across the open campOs OF
through the scattering woodlands.
In about two hours after leaving the
city OF Sac Paulo the traveller begins
TO see the first considerable coffee
plantations, and from that time on
the journey Is one OF the greatest in
terest. Ceffee Is everywhere. Miles
and miles OF coffee trees stretch away,
mp and down the gentle slopes OF the
rolling topography. often as far as the
eye can see-great broad waves of
green, with the narrow lines of the red
soil showing in marked contrast with
the green OF the leaves. II is a sight
which Is not soon forgotten. Here and
there are small patches Of forest which
have not yet been destroyed to make
I way for the coffee. And then there
come great stretches OF rugged grass
lands. partly used for grazing purposes.
/ or locally for farming. where the soil
Is not right for the coffee tree.
Charm Of the FaAendas.
On the lower slopes OF the hills or
on the lOwlands, standing out In
marked contrast with the green coffee
trees. are the white buildings OF the
fazendas-great, substantial stone and
stuccO manor houses, with wide
verandas and large windows, surround
ed by gardens filed with palm, and
banana, and orange. and mango, trees /;
the extensive outbuildings, for the
stables and for the machinery, for the
Iaborers and for the superintendent. be-
ing placed at a respectful distance
from the manor house.
All these Brazilian fazendas have n
peculiar CHAIRMAN appearance OF
solidarity, OF comfort, Of peace, and OF
prosperity-as they lie there, sur
rounded by the wealth OF their coffee
trees, with cattle grazing on the neigh
boring fields. and with ever-busy, pic
turesque Italian laborers caring for
the precious crop, whose market prices
are quoted daily in oil the important
papers throughout the civilized world.
The coffee trees on Brazilian plan
tation begin 70 bear In from two to