Moisés Bertoni

The Swiss scientist, Moises Santiago Bertoni (1857-1929), was born in the Italian section of Switzerland. He moved to South America, first to Argentina and soon after to Paraguay, because he did not like the political and social climate prevalent in Europe at the time. He established himself along the margins of the Parana River where he dedicated himself to bringing up his 13 children and to his scientific research. In the small house, today a museum administrated by the National Park Service of Paraguay, Bertoni studied and published material on Guarani indian ethnography, the Guarani language, botony, zoology, entomology , meteorology, agriculture and biology. To publish his books, he started a publishing company in his own house and gave it the Latin name Ëx-Sylvis, which means from the forest. It was in this small publishing company using manual printing, that he published works such as The Guarani Civilization in three volumes, The Guarani-Latin Dictionary of Scientific Terms and other works in the area of agriculture, one of which, entitled Cultivation without Buring, condemned burning. Bertoni died in Iguassu Falls in1929. He left behind a large collection of insects, animal skulls, snakes in formaldahyde as well as many books. Although he lived in isolation, the scientist received information through the mail - books and magazines from the American Smithsonian Institution and from various Brazilian, African, Asian and European geographic, scientific and cultural institutions. Bertoni was the discoveror of many vegetal species, the most famous being Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni, a plant with a sweet flavor known in Paraguay as Ka'á he'en. In the scientific name of the plant, which wound up becoming established as an efficient natural sweetener, the maiden name of his wife also appears, Eugenia Rebaud Bertoni, with whom he shared the discovery. Bertoni is buried in the family cemetery near the museum.

Biography

Meteorology , a passion: - Born on June 15, 1857, in Lottigna, Switzerland, son of an important lawyer and public servant, Moises Bertoni showed himself to be interested in the flora and fauna and other mysteries of the planet from an early age. In 1876, with the collaboration of his mother, Giuseppina Torriani Bertoni, he founded his first meteorological observatory and initiated a series of studies and observations that occupied his attention for the rest of his life. After a short period in Zurich, in 1878 he reinitiated his studies at the University of Geneva, but did not conclude them because of economic problems.

Argentina, point of departure: - In 1876 he married his fellow scholar, Eugenia Rossetti, with whom he had 13 children: 5 Swiss, 2 Argentineans and 6 Paraguayans. In 1884, he and his family embarked for Buenos Aires at the invitation of General Roca, then president of the country, who not only welcomed him, but also facilitated his journey and colonization of the territory "Missiones". Bertoni installed himself in Santa Ana and there initiated his experimental work in agriculture, botany, zoology, meteorology and ethnography and other areas.

Paraguay, a secure port: - In the year 1887, he could be found in Santa Ana, on the opposite side of the Parana River from Yaguarazapa (Paraguay). In 1893 he founded the Guillermo Tell Colony, today Puerto Bertoni, where he found ample fodder for his studies and experiments.

In 1896, the President of the Republic of Paraguay, General Egusquiza, invited him to found the National School of Agriculture in Trinidad. The school was directed by Bertoni for nine years. In 1903 he organized the National Society of Agriculture. In 1910 he could be found in Buenos Aires where, sponsored by the Government of Paraguay, he participated in the International Agriculture Exposition where he obtained medals and diplomas.

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