America's Crop Heritage


attempts to establish the vine and olive in the southeastern part
of the country continued for two generations with little success.

 THE TREASURY CIRCULAR OF 1819
 William H. Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury, attempted to
stimulate interest in plant introduction with the Treasury circular
of 1819. This document called for the assistance of naval and con-
sular officials in foreign countries in sending to this country what-
ever plants or seeds they might deem of value to American farmers.
Found in the archives of the Treasury Department, this circular
states clearly the problem and its relations to American agricul-
ture at that time:
 The introduction of useful plants, not before cultivated, or of such as are of
superior quality to those which have been previously introduced, is an object of
great importance to every civilized state, but more particularly to one recently
organized, in which the progress of improvements of every kind, has not to con-
tend with ancient and deep rooted prejudices. The introduction of such inventions,
the results of the labour and science of other nations, is still more important,
especially to the United States, whose institutions secure to the importer no ex-
clusive advantage from their introduction. Your attention is respectfully solicited
to these important subjects.
 The collectors of the different ports of the United States will cheerfully co-
operate with you in this interesting and beneficent undertaking, and become the
distributors of the collections of plants and seeds which may be consigned by you
to their care. It will greatly facilitate the distribution, if the article shall be sent
directly to those sections of the Union, where the soil and climate are adapted
to their culture.
 At present, no expense can be authorized, in relation to these objects. Should
the result of these suggestions answer my expectations, it is possible that the
attention of the national legislature may be attracted to the subject, and that
some provisions may be made, especially in relation to useful inventions.
 I have the honour to be, very respectively, sir, your most obedient servant.
 WM. H. CRAWFORD

 One introduction which may be attributed to this circular was
the work of Consul Appleton in Italy. He sent in "barrels of the
Lupinella" of Italy, which was received and distributed by Craw-
ford. Very little was actually accomplished by the circular, however,
because no money was authorized for the work.
 In addition to this circular, Crawford's interest in agriculture
is recorded by the Southern Cultivator of Augusta, Georgia. A
letter from a correspondent reporter that Crawford, while Secretary
of the Treasury, procured seeds of the doub grass and of the teak
tree from India. He sent them to Thomas Spalding, Sapelo Island,
Georgia, who convinced himself that doub grass was identical
with the Bermuda grass introduced in Colonial days.