The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
the near approach of the Cevennes and Alps, which only leave there a
passage for the Rhone. Whether such a shelter exists or not in the States
of South Carolina and Georgia, I know not. But this we may say, either
that it exists or that it is not necessary there, because we know that
they produce the orange in open air; and wherever the orange will stand
at all, experience shows that the olive will stand well, being a hardier
tree. Notwithstanding the great quantities of oil made in France, they
have not enough for their own consumption, and therefore import from
other countries. This is an article, the consumption of which will always
keep pace with its production. Raise it, and it begets it own demand.
Little is carried to America, because Europe has it not to spare. We,
therefore, have not learned the use of it. But cover the southern States
with it, and every man will become a consumer of oil, within whose reach
it can be brought in point of price. If the memory of those persons is
held in great respect in South Carolina who introduced there the culture
of rice, a plant which sows life and death with almost equal hand, what
obligations would be due to him who should introduce the olive tree, and
set the example of its culture! Were the owner of slaves to view it only
as the means of bettering their condition, how much would he better that
by planting one of those trees for every slave he possessed! Having been
myself an eye witness to the 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 me 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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