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of the root. Upon cutting it into four pieces, I was foriy 

 to find it unfound in the lieart ; in place of its natural beau- 

 tiful nutmeg or marbled appearance, I found it brown, and 

 flightly tinged with black, and foftifh in the heart; the reft 

 of this piece was found and good, except a little under the 

 bark, which was difcoloured. None of the four pieces were 

 externally drefled, and therefore not marketable. 



Although No. I. feemed to me to be more fully dried, 

 and better dried, than No. II. it would be rafh to extend 

 this opinion to the rell of the parcels. It is proper to add, 

 that none of the pieces were fo unfound, as, in my opinion, 

 to injure their medicinal qualities : but three of the four 

 pieces would not keep ; the moifture and unfoundnefs would 

 have extended, and fpoiled more of the root. 



On tlie fubjedl of rhubarb, I have thought much, and 

 made many experiments, and received much ufeful infor- 

 mation : after all, it is a very difficult and uncertain attempt 

 to dry rhubarb fuccefsfully. 



It gives me great pleafure to fee Societies of Agriculture 

 cftabliihed in different parts of England. If I thought it 

 would be- acceptable to your Society, I fhould tranfmLt to 

 you what a long experience has taught me. Would it be 

 acceptable to the Society to have a few feeds of the afafoe- 

 tida plant, which is hardy ? There are but four plants of 

 it in Europe : two in this garden, and two in the King's 

 garden at Kew, from feeds which I fent Mr. Ayton two. 

 years ago. 



I am, Sir, your obedient fervant, 



JOHN HOPE. 



P.S. As 



