624 [ASSEMBL? 



In 1769, the olive was introduced into Florida, by a colony of 

 Greeks and Minorcans, brought over by one Dr. Turnbull, an 

 Englishman, who founded a settlement called "New Smyrna." 



In 1785, also, a society was incorporated in South Carolina for 

 the promotion of agriculture. The object was to institute a farm 

 for agricultural experiments, to import and distribute foreign 

 productions suitable to the climate of Charleston, and to direct 

 the attention of agriculturists of the State to economical objects, 

 as well as to reward those persons who should improve the art of 

 husbandry. Among other objects of interest, the society imported 

 and distributed some cuttings of vines and olives. The latter an- 

 swered well, but the climate near Charleston proved too moist for 

 the grapes. Attempts have been made to propagate the olive 

 from seeds in various parts of the south, but hitherto with little 

 success. This may be attributed to a tendency in the olive to 

 sport into inferior varieties when so planted ; but there is every 

 reason to hope that the new importations of cuttings of approved 

 kinds will increase the production in many parts of the South. 



Congress in the year 1817, granted four townships of land, in 

 the present state of Alabama, on a long credit, to a company of 

 French emigrants, for the purpose and on the condition of their 

 introducing and cultivating the olive and the grape ; but the en- 

 terprise never was prosecuted to any considerable extent, and it 

 finally fell through, and the lands reverted to the Government. 



Of the olive stocks and cuttings recently from France, the fol- 

 lowing varieties were received and distributed in the Carolinas, 

 Georgia, and other states bordering on the Mexican Gulf ; Oliver 

 blanquet nain ; Oliver veraillion nain ; 0. picholine nain, (this 

 variety yields the kind of olives most celebrated for pickling, and 

 is not very particular in the choice of soil and climate ;) 0. verdal 

 nain; 0. de cruan nain; 0. de salon (a variety producing a small 

 round fruit, good for oil, and prefers dry elevated ground ;) O. 

 bouquetier nain ; O. gros redonaon ; and 0. violet. 



The Fig (Ficus carica.) The fruit of this tree is a great and 

 wholesome luxury, both in a green and in a dried state, and its 

 multiplication in our southern and southwestern states cannot fail 



