done me by the South
Carolina society for promoting and improving agriculture and other rural
concerns, when they were pleased to elect me to be of their body: and
I beg leave, through you, Sir, to convey to them my grateful thanks
for this favor. They will find in me, indeed, but a very unprofitable
servant. At present, particularly, my situation is unfavorable to the
desire I feel, of promoting their views. However, I shall certainly
avail myself of every occasion, which shall occur of doing so. Perhaps
I may render some service, by forwarding to the society such new objects
of culture, as may be likely to succeed in the soil and climate of
South Carolina. In an infant country, as ours is, these experiments are
important. We are probably far from possessing, as yet, all the articles
of culture for which nature has fitted our country. To find out
these, will require abundance of unsuccessful experiments. But if in
a multitude of these, we make one useful acquisition, it repays our
trouble. Perhaps it is the peculiar duty of associated bodies, to
undertake these experiments. Under this sense of the views of the
society, and with so little opportunity of being otherwise useful to
them, I shall be attentive to procure for them the seeds of such plants,
as they will be so good as to point out to me, or as shall occur to
myself as worthy their notice. I send at present, by Mr. McQueen, some
seeds of a grass, found very useful in the southern parts of Europe, and
particularly, and almost solely, cultivated in Malta. It is called
by the names of Sulla, and Spanish St. Foin, and is the _Hedysarum
coronarium_ of Linnaeus. It is usually sown early in autumn. I shall
receive a supply of fresher seed this fall, which I will also do myself
the honor of forwarding to you. I expect, in the same season, from the
south of France, some acorns of the cork oak, which I propose for your
society, as I am persuaded they will succeed with you. I observed it
to grow in England, without shelter; not well indeed; but so as to give
hopes that it would do well with you. I shall consider myself as always
honored by the commands of the society, whenever they shall find it
convenient to make use of me, and beg you to be assured, personally, of
the sentiments of respect and esteem, with which I have the honor to be,
Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XI.--TO W. T. FRANKLIN, May 7, 1786

TO W. T. FRANKLI