Memória sobre a plantação dos algodões

A meticulous report from the late 1600s offers a window into Brazil’s early cotton economy. Written for the Prince of Brazil, the author surveys the thriving cotton plantations of Bahia, explaining how the region’s climate and soil make the crop especially valuable for export. He also turns his eye to the decline of cassava fields, linking the shift to changing market demands and agricultural practices.

Beyond mere statistics, the memoir delves into the science of cultivation as understood at the time. It contrasts European plants, which struggle to adapt to the Brazilian coast, with native species that thrive under the local heat, humidity, and rainfall patterns. By examining the interplay of climate, water, and air, the author highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by colonial farmers, providing a vivid portrait of early agricultural thought in a rapidly developing colony.