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blessings which this tree sheds on the poor, I never had my wishes so 

 kindled for the introduction of any article of new culture into our 

 own country. South Carolina and Georgia appear to rae to be the States, 

 wherein its success, in favorable positions at least, could not be 

 doubted, and I flattered myself it would come within the views of the 

 society for agriculture to begin the experiments which are to prove its 

 practicability. Carcassonne is the place from which the plants may be 

 most certainly and cheaply obtained. They can be sent from thence by 

 water to Bordeaux, where they may be embarked on vessels bound for 

 Charleston. There is too little intercourse between Charleston and 

 Marseilles to propose this as the port of exportation. I offer my 

 services to the society for the obtaining and forwarding any number of 

 plants which may be desired. 



Before I quit the subject of climates, and the plants adapted 

 to them, I will add, as a matter of curiosity, and of some utility too, 

 that my journey through the southern parts of France, and the terri- 

 tory of Genoa, but still more the crossing of the Alps, enabled me to 

 form a scale of the tenderer plants, and to arrange them according 

 to their different powers of resisting cold. In passing the Alps at 

 the Col de Tende, we cross three very high mountains successively. 

 In ascending, we lose these plants, one after another, as we rise, 

 and find them again in the contrary order as we descend on the other 

 side; and this is repeated three times. Their order, proceeding from 

 the tenderest to the hardiest, is as follows: caper, orange, palm, 

 aloe, olive, pomegranate, walnut, fig, almond. But this must be 

 understood of the plant only; for as to the fruit, the order is some- 

 what different. The caper, for example, is the tenderest plant, yet, 

 being so easily protected, it is among the most certain in its fruit. 

 The almond, the hardiest, loses its fruit the oftenest, on account of 

 its forwardness. The palm, hardier than the caper and orange, never 

 produces perfect fruit here. 



I had the honor of sending you, the last year, some seeds of 

 the sulla of Malta, or Spanish St. Foin. Lest they should have mis- 

 carried, I now pack with the rice a cannister of the same kind of seed, 

 raised by myself. By Colonel Franks, in the month of February last, 

 I sent a parcel of acorns of the cork oak, which I desired him to ask 

 the favor of the Delegates of South Carolina in Congress to forward 

 to you. 



I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect 

 esteem and respect. Sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant. - 

 H. A. Washington, ed.. The Writings o£ Thomas Jefferson. 2:194-202 (Washington, 

 D. C, Taylor & Maury, 1853). 



