rom thence by water to Bordeaux, where they may be
embarked on vessels bound to 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.

Before I quit the subject of climates, and the plants adapted to them,
I will add, as a matter of curiosity, and of some utility too, that
my journey through the southern parts of France, and the territory of
Genoa, but still more the crossing of the Alps, enabled me to form a
scale of the tenderer plants, and to arrange them according to their
different powers of resisting cold. In passing the Alps at the Col de
Tende, we cross three very high mountains, successively. In ascending,
we lose these plants, one after another, as we rise, and find them again
in the contrary order, as we descend on the other side; and this is
repeated three times. Their order, proceeding from the tenderest to the
hardiest, is as follows. Caper, orange, palm, aloe, olive, pomegranate,
walnut, fig, almond. But this must be understood of the plant only;
for as to the fruit, the order is somewhat different. The caper, for
example, is the tenderest plant; yet, being so easily protected, it is
among the most certain in its fruit. The almond, the hardiest plant,
loses its fruit the oftenest, on account of its forwardness. The palm,
hardier than the caper and orange, never produces perfect fruit here.

I had the honor of sending you, the last year, some seeds of the sulla
of Malta, or Spanish saintfoin. Lest they should have miscarried, I
now pack with the rice a canister of the same kind of seed, raised
by myself. By Colonel Franks, in the month of February last, I sent a
parcel of acorns of the cork-oak, which I desired him to ask the favor
of the Delegates of South Carolina in Congress, to forward to you.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and
respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER LXXV.--TO JAMES MADISON, August 2, 1787

TO JAMES MADISON.

Paris, August 2, 1787.

Dear Sir,

My last was of June the 20th. Yours, received since that date, are of
May the 15th, and June the 6th. In mine, I acknowledged the receipt of
the paccan nuts which came sealed up. I have reason to believe those in
the box have arrived at L'Orient. By the Mary, Captain Howlan