1To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 2 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Mauduit agt for the Massachusetts at the olive Tree near the Sun Tavern South Side of St Pauls
2From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Williamos, 7 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
...visited the Southern colonies, where he reported to Dartmouth on affairs in Virginia, advocated the establishment of a bank to remedy the scarcity of money there, and urged that the culture of silk, vines, and olive trees be encouraged in Carolina and Georgia. Both Williamos and TJ happened to be in Williamsburg in July, 1766, and it is possible that their friendship dated from that time...
3Notes of a Tour into the Southern Parts of France, &c., 3 March–10 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
...a woman’s the half, and fed. 280. ℔. of wheat sells for 42.₶ They make no butter here. It costs, when brought, 15.s the ℔. Oil is 10.s the ℔. Tolerable good olive trees yeild one with another, about 20. ℔ of oil. An olive tree must be 20 years old before it has paid it’s own expences. It lasts for ever. In 1765. it was so cold that the Rhone ...killed all the olive trees. From being...
4From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 27 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
grove of olive trees, and is moreover in corn, lucerne, or vines, for the happiness of the olive tree is that it interferes with no superficial production. Probably it draws it’s nourishment from parts out of the reach of any other plant. It takes well in every soil, but best where it is poorest, or where...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 1 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
.... On one hand a mountain cloven through to let pass a gurgling stream; on the other a river, over which is thrown a magnificent bridge; the whole formed into a bason, it’s sides shagged with rocks, olive trees, vines, herds, &c.
6From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Rutledge, 14 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
...to hazard my letter and all those criticisms which fall justly on an ignorant person writing on a subject to those much more learned in it than himself. A part of my letter too related to the olive tree and caper, the first of which would surely succeed in your country and would be an infinite blessing after some 15. or 20. years: the caper would also probably succeed and would offer a very...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 30 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
...which it renders a proper and comfortable nourishment. In passing the Alps at the Col de Tende, where they are mere masses of rock, wherever there happens to be a little soil, there are a number of olive trees, and a village supported by them. Take away these trees, and the same ground in corn would not support a single family. A pound of oil which can be bought for 3d. or 4d. sterling is...
8From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, with Enclosure, 16 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
...found much amusement; but more than all in their agriculture, many objects of which might be adopted with us to great advantage. I am persuaded there are many parts of our lower country where the olive tree might be raised, which is assuredly the richest gift of heaven. I can scarcely except bread. I see this tree supporting thousands in among the Alps where there is not soil enough to...
9Memorandum Books, 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Recd. from M. Petrie 726₶. on a bill of Brailsford and Morris sent to me on account of the Agricultural society of S. Carolina to be employed in sending them olive trees. wrote of the olive tree: “I never had my wishes so kindled for the introduction of any article of new culture into our own country.” He persuaded ...the purchase of olive trees for the South Carolina agricultural...
10From Thomas Jefferson to J. Louis Brethoux, 21 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknolege the receipt of the letter you did me the honour to write me on the 21st. of January together with the book on the culture of the olive tree. This is a precious present to me, and I pray you to accept my thanks for it. I am just gratified by letters from South Carolina which inform me that in consequence of the information I had given... ...olive tree, and the...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, Sr., 20 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I am desired by some gentlemen of South Carolina to procure to be sent to them some plants of the best species of Olive-trees. As Marseilles is the most convenient port for this, I must beg the favor of you to charge some gardener with the procuring and preparing these plants, and having them always in readiness to go by such vessel... ...best species of olive trees, and that he will be so...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 11 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
.... Has arranged with Bernard to pay copyist 60₶ for doing the meteorological data. Sir John Lambert advised him that TJ had paid £272₶—5s. on Cathalan’s account. Will procure plants of best species of olive trees “to the amount of 30 Louis or something more.” “Nesmer a gardener of this Place, well known at Paris where he is till the end of this month, will be charged by me for the...
13From Thomas Jefferson to John Rutledge, Jr., 19 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
...in the supposition that our new government may be in motion by the beginning of November.- I must press on you, my dear Sir, a very particular attention to the climate and culture of the Olive tree. This is the most interesting plant in existence for S. Carolina and Georgia. You will see in various places that it gives being to whole villages in places where there is not soil enough to...
14Jefferson’s Hints to Americans Travelling in Europe, 19 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
. Examine carefully where you first meet with the Olive tree, and be so good as to inform me of it. This is a very interesting enquiry, for South Carolina and Georgia particularly. I have now orders from S. Carolina to send a large quantity of olive trees there, as they propose to endeavour to introduce the culture of that precious tree....and where you recover the Olive tree in rising...
15To Thomas Jefferson from John Rutledge, Jr., 8 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
...last of April. They mention Marylands having accepted the new Constitution and say that its adoption in our State may be regarded as a thing certain. Much do I thank you my dear Sir for your hints respecting the olive Tree, I am well convinced how great a circumstance its introduction into our State will be and shall myself pay much attention to its culture and Climate.
16To Thomas Jefferson from Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 17 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have ordered the olive trees, with olives to be seed, to be gott with Figs, Brignols, Raisins, Pistaches, Capers, but those only in very small quantity; every thing will be well packed in Barrels, with Sand Straw &c. but...
17To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 29 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
...along which we have passed is one of the most interesting in Italy. In agriculture it is rich. The productions are grass, Indian corn, wheat, vines, mulberry trees and in one small part olive trees. The water is disposed of as you observed it in the Milanoes to the greatest possible advantage, and in various ways as the country is alternately flat and mountainous. Throughout every part of...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Russell-Greaves, 11 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I recollect when at Paris your mentioning to me, that you thought the Olive tree of this Country would fit the Climate of Carolina. My Friend Mr. Edwards intends, on his return, to make
19From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 15 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It has now returned on her. It has always been slight. On the subject of the season, they write me from Marseilles that the cold is greater there than in the year 1709, when all their olive trees were killed. They apprehend the same misfortune now. It takes 20. years to replace them, and they are the principal resource of that country.
20From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 21 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
...41½° below the freezing point, which is more than was ever known before. I receive letters from Marseilles this morning informing me the winter is more severe there than it was in 1709. when they lost all their olive trees. They apprehend the same calamity now, and it will take 20. years to replace them.
21From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 23 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
...The cold has been rigorous here beyond all former experience. It has been 9½:° of Farenheit below nought. They write me from Marseilles that it has exceeded there the cold of 1709. which killed all their olive trees. They fear the same disaster now. If it happens, it will take 20. years to re-establish them. I am with sentiments of sincere esteem & attachment, dear Sir, your friend and...
22To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 23 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
P.S. I forgot to mention that the first olive trees on our journey except those on the Lago di garda mentioned in my letter from Venise, were at a place called St. Archangelo about 2½ leagues beyond Rimini. They did not become general until we passed Ancona....
23To Thomas Jefferson from John Rutledge, Jr., 31 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
...can possible conceive. For forty or fifty miles, immediately after crossing the Appenines, I did not see a corn or a wheat field nor any symptom of any other production save the olive tree. Yet I always had in view beautiful and flourishing Villages. Every thing was flourishing and abundant and the olive seem’d to spread fatness and plenty throughout the whole circumjacent Country....
24To Thomas Jefferson from Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 1 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
...to Bordeaux for fear they would be destroyed on canal, which is probably frozen. “We are covered with snow and Ice, and no Body [h]as seen yet such cold weather here; we fear that all the olive trees have greatly suffered in the Country if not totaly been distroyed. In such a Case it would be an irreparable loss for this province to be support’d for 30 years to Come. The cold during 3 days,...
25To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 11 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
...that still hung on them. Notwithstanding the hardness of this uncommon winter, the sides of the road were strewed with flowers as in the spring. The Aloe grows spontaneously in many places along the road. Some forests of olive trees looked more like forests of oaks
26To Thomas Jefferson from Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 11 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
...the greatest part of the princes and Gentry of that Town. He will tell you, that this year, on account of the Severe winter, we have suffered, and we still suffer, It was impossible to venture, any olive trees, for america, which we will do next winter.
27To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 3 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
On the road between Toulon and this place were the only olive trees that we observed killed by the cold. The appearance of the crops by no means as bad as generally reported. We have been witness to much fermentation in the villages through which we passed. We were at Toulon...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 12 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I still hoped it would be possible to venture some olive trees to America this Season, but the cold returning again in february, which has continued to Ice, till the last weeck, we apprehend they are allmost killed, which will be a great loss for all the Southern provinces...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Brailsford & Morris, 7 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
...is an extract from the letter of Apr. 12. on this subject written me by Mr. Cathalan whom I had charged with this commission. ‘I still hoped it would be possible to venture some olive trees to America this season, but the cold returning again in February, which has continued to ice till the last week we apprehend they are almost killed. The gardener therefore advises me to postpone till next...
30From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 7 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
It is time I should inform you what has been done in pursuance of the commission you honored me with relative to the olive trees. My former letters have informed you that I immediately lodged orders at Marseilles to have sent a good number of olive plants of the best species and a great quantity of olives. The olives were to be sowed to...