Dutiful Correspondent by Holowchak M. Andrew;Holowchak M Andrew;

Author:Holowchak, M. Andrew;Holowchak, M Andrew;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: undefined
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2012-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Botany

In a memorandum that has come to be known as “Services to My Country,” Jefferson lists the most significant things he has done for America. “The greatest service which can be rendered any country is,” he says toward the end of his list, “to add an useful plant to its culture; especially, a bread grain; next in value to bread is oil.” Similarly, to Alexander Giroud (22 May 1797), he says, “One service of this kind rendered to a nation is worth more to them than all the victories of the most splendid pages of their history, and becomes a source of exalted pleasure to those who have been instrumental to it.”

In “Travelling Notes for Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Shippen,” Jefferson lists, presumably in order of importance, his eight “objects of attention for Americans” who are abroad. He begins with agriculture. “Everything belonging to this art, and whatever has a near relation to it. Useful or agreeable animals which might be transported to America. Species of plants for the farmer’s garden, according to the climate of the different states.”[31]

Botany was especially important to a gentleman of the country. “No country gentleman should be without what amuses every step he takes into his fields,” he writes to John Cooper (7 October 1814). Only by understanding the productions of nature can one can stroll her fields with pleasure, not disquiet.

To John Hollins (19 February 1809), Jefferson mentions importation of a spinning jenny for wool, cotton, and flax. He writes of exportation of May wheat from Virginia to England and perennial succor to England as well as importation of a Swedish turnip. There is a fraternal correspondence, he adds, between scientific societies for the sake of global utility.

I mention these things, to shew the nature of the correspondence which is carried on between societies instituted for the benevolent purpose of communicating to all parts of the world whatever useful is discovered in any one of them. These societies are always at peace, however their nations may be at war. Like the republic of letters, they form a great fraternity spreading over the whole earth, and their correspondence is never interrupted by any civilized nation.

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