Le Portugal au point de vue agricole

Written to the 1900 Paris Exposition, Le Portugal au point de vue agricole has one main purpose: presenting different aspects of Portuguese agriculture throughout a variety of themes, surveying the state and evolution of the agricultural activities. Considering this, the book is organized as follows: “the Portuguese land”, “agricultural production” and “rural life”, going all the way through the various sub-sectors, from viniculture to beekeeping, and also cereals, fruits or even salt production.

In order to understand the causes behind the importance of the agricultural sector in Portugal, we can find a detailed account on uses of the soil, fauna (with special emphasis on the various types of cattle), flora, orography, also offering an interpretative premise about the history and social structure in the countryside. Another important aspect of this book is the frequent use of photographs illustrating work scenes, landscapes and peasantry everyday life. 

Therefore, it can be argued that such an extensive global approach makes this book an essential reference to go through the socio-technical rhetoric building the Portuguese agricultural discourses around 1900, in connection to economic and sociological concerns.

L.P.