LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, February 27, 1892. SIR: I have the honor to present for publication a series of chapters on the agriculture of South America, most of which have been presented in the monthly reports of the Statistician during the past year. Some of the more important have not before been printed. The interest in these Pan-American republics, so natural from their proximity and liberal form of government, has been intensified by the presence and deliberations at this capital of the Congress of the Americas, by the reciprocity treaties already ratified, the establishment of new lines of steamship communication, and the preparation for the coming Columbian Exposition. The desirability, if not necessity, of enlarging our markets for the surplus of farm production is another reason for cultivating this neglected commercial field, and for the publication of all available information covering the products and the market needs of these South American countries. The matter has been prepared by Mr. Almont Barnes, of this office, whose long residence in South America as a consul of the United States at La Guayra, in Venezuela, and Curaçao, West Indies, and subsequent study of the status and progress of South American countries, has fitted him for an intelligent and comprehensive exposition of the subject. A statistical chapter showing our trade with South American countries during the fiscal year 1890-'91, as represented by the exports of the United States and imports from those republics, is included in this publication. The aggregate of this trade is $151,963,069, made up of exports valued at $33,226,401, and imports valued at $118,736,668. It will be seen that the imports constitute 78 per cent of the whole. The agricultural imports represent a value of $100,889,912, of which 92 per cent were received absolutely without a tariff charge. The agricul tural exports amount to $12,242,439. The equitable necessity for concessions in the matter of customs duties, for fairer reciprocal relations (which have already been granted largely) in view of the admission of their agricultural products practically duty free, is apparent to all. The great disparity in amount and value of these exchanges, as shown in this bulletin, is due in part to want of direct shipping facilities, such as are enjoyed by other nations that practically monopolize the trade. While this trade has heretofore been so unequal, it has been so much a necessity as to require eight dollars in agricultural imports for every dollar of agricultural exports, under the famine of transportation facilities which has heretofore existed. Seventy per cent of this agricultural importation, or $70,675,787, came from Brazil, of which $62,022,022 was for coffee. Respectfully, Hon. J. M. Rusk, J. R. DODGE, Secretary. REPORT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF SOUTH AMERICA. INTRODUCTION. The consideration given in the following pages to the agricultural characteristics and condition of the several countries of South America, of which comparatively little is generally known in the United States, is intended to afford information in as much detail as appears to be required in such a work, to the agriculturists of this country, concerning the character of the principal productions of the great region treated of, and of the natural conditions which determine and control such productions; and, incidentally, of the economical institutions under which the rural and other industries of the southern continent of America find play and progress. in Such information may be deemed desirable, and even necessary, view of the awakened interest in commercial and other intercourse between the United States and the Latin-American Republics, and of the evident fact that such intercourse must, in the nature of things, greatly increase. The wonderful expansion of our own industries, and the coincident increase of the demands for natural and agricultural products not native or suited to our climate, inevitably force our attention upon portions of the world beyond us which promise the best markets for our surplus productions, and the best sources of supply of articles which we can not produce, at least sufficiently or economically. The climate of the United States being mainly a temperate one, our demand and supply relate naturally to a tropical one, especially as to agricultural articles. The greatest extent of the United States is from east to west, and in the temperate zone. Towards the tropics the continent diminishes greatly in breadth, as do all continental bodies in their southern portions. South America has by far its greatest area in the tropics, and diminishes rapidly in its temperate zone. The climate of the United States is temperate, with very limited territorial exceptions; that of South America is tropical, exclusive of a comparatively small part of its area. Here we have continents on a north and south line, nearly equal in extent in their agricultural areas under consideration, the natural and even the artificial productions of which are in the main dissimilar. It is generally conceded that such countries, and especially so situated, are on "the natural line of trade." |