Thomas Jefferson to Bernard McMahon, 16 February 1812
To Bernard McMahon
Monticello Feb. 16. 12.
Sir
In your letter of March last, as on various other occasions, you were so kind as to offer to supply my wants in the article of plants, and in my answer of April 8. I mentioned a few articles, as also the mode of conveyance, which could not occur till about this time. an opportunity now presents itself of the most fortunate kind. mr Harmer Gilmer, a student of medecine now in Philadelphia, and my neighbor, will be setting out on his return to us very soon after you recieve this. he will come in the stage and will, I am sure, take charge of any small box you may be so good as to put under his care. I write to him on this subject. never expecting so good an opportunity again, & so seasonable a one, I will still add a little to my former wants so as to put me in possession once for all of every thing to which my views extend, & which I do not now possess.
seeds. Auricula. double Anemone. double Carnation. Mignonette. eggplant. Sea Kale
bulbs. Crown imperial. double Ranunculus.
plants. Hudson & Chili strawberries. fine gooseberries. Cape jasmine.
trees. Cedar of Lebanon. balm of Gilead fir. Cork tree. Spanish Chesnut or Maronnier of ye French.
one plant of the Cape jessamine, & one or two of the trees will suffice. the seeds may come in a letter packet by mail; the bulbs, plants & trees (if the latter be chosen small) in a small & light box, packed in moss which mr Gilmer will take charge of: and if you will be so kind as to inform me of the amount in the letter by the mail, it shall be promptly remitted. mr Gilmer will be so near his departure as to require immediate dispatch.
Among other plants I recieved from M. Thouin, was the Brassica sempervirens, or Sprout Kale. one plant only vegetated, the 1st year, but this winter I have 20. or 30. turned out for seed. I consider it among the most valuable garden plants. it stands our winter unprotected, furnishes a vast crop of sprouts from the beginning of December through the whole winter, which are remarkably sweet and delicious. I inclose you a few seeds, a part of what the original plant gave us; the next year I hope to have a plenty. I send it because I do not percieve by your catalogue that you have it. Accept my esteem & respect
Th: Jefferson
PoC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr McMahon”; endorsed by TJ. Dft (DLC: TJ Papers, 192:34238); undated; subjoined to RC of McMahon to TJ, 10 Mar. 1811; consisting of plant and seed list:
“dble | Anemone. Auricula dble Carnation |
dble | Ranunculus. Crown Imperial |
Mignonette. | |
sea kale egg plant | |
Chili Hudson strawberries | |
Gooseberries | |
Cape Jasmine | |
Cork tree. Cedar of Lebanon | |
Balm of Gilead fir. Spanish chesnut. Maronnier | |
seeds. | dble Anemone |
Auricula. | |
dble Carnation | |
Mignonette | |
Sea Kale | |
egg plant | |
bulbs. | dble Ranunculus |
Crown imperial. |
plants. | Hudson | strawberries | |
Chili |
gooseberries | |
Cape Jasmine | |
Cedar of Lebanon | |
balm of Gilead fir | |
Cork tree | |
Spanish Chesnut. Maronnier.” |
TJ received seeds of sprout kale from André Thoüin in the spring of 1811 and cultivated the plant on the lower platform of his garden by the following year ( , 469 and plate 33 opp. p. 474).
Index Entries
- anemone, double search
- auricula search
- balsam fir (balm of Gilead fir) search
- cape jasmine (cape jessamine) search
- carnations search
- cedar of Lebanon search
- chestnut; European search
- Chili strawberry search
- crown imperial lily search
- eggplant search
- fir trees; balsam (balm of Gilead fir) search
- food; eggplant search
- food; gooseberries search
- food; kale, sea search
- food; kale, sprout search
- food; strawberries search
- Gilmer, Harmer; and plants from Philadelphia search
- gooseberries; TJ orders plants search
- Hudson strawberry search
- jasmine (jessamine); cape search
- kale; sea search
- kale; sprout search
- lily; crown imperial search
- McMahon, Bernard; letters to search
- McMahon, Bernard; TJ orders plants from search
- McMahon, Bernard; TJ sends seeds to search
- mignonette search
- oak; cork search
- plants; bulbs search
- plants; TJ orders search
- ranunculus; double search
- ranunculus; TJ orders search
- seeds; anemone, double search
- seeds; auricula search
- seeds; carnation search
- seeds; eggplant search
- seeds; kale, sea search
- seeds; mignonette search
- seeds; sent by TJ search
- seeds; sent to TJ search
- strawberries; Chili search
- strawberries; Hudson search
- Thoüin, André; sends seeds to TJ search
- trees; cedar of Lebanon search
- trees; chestnut, European search
- trees; fir, balsam (balm of Gilead) search
- trees; oak, cork search
- trees; sent to TJ search