Memoria sobre a cultura, e productos da cana de assucar

An evocative snapshot of late‑century Brazil, this manuscript was presented to the royal court as a practical guide to sugarcane culture and production. Written in 1799 by a learned priest at the request of the Prince Regent, it blends a formal report to the Crown with candid observations of the colony’s agricultural realities, noting the contrast between Europe’s polished methods and the improvisations common on Brazilian estates.

The author explains the basics of planting—spacing, field layout, and labor organization—while also critiquing the reliance on untrained overseers and the harsh conditions faced by enslaved workers. He offers concrete experiments, such as varying row distances, to demonstrate how modest adjustments can boost yields and profitability. Listeners will hear a rare, almost conversational voice from the period, revealing both the promise and the challenges of Brazil’s “most precious plant” before the age of modern agronomy took hold.