C 441 ] 



p. S. As the Society feem defirous to have the opi- 

 nion of the beft judges of home rhubarb, on the parcels 

 claiming the premium, I tranfmitted the two parcels you 

 fent me to Sir Alexander Dick, and fend inclofed his 

 anfwer. , ^ 



JEdinburgh, July 11^ 1784. 



I 



LETTER III. 



[From Sir Alexander Dick, to Dr. Hope.} 

 Dear Doctor, 



Got your letter, and fpecinaens of the rhubarb, with the 

 Gentleman of Bath's letter to you, by your fervant,- 

 yefterday ; and as I would not delay an anfwer to you in a 

 matter of fudi confequence as my favourite fubjedl of the 

 true rhubarb's cultivation in Britain, and my thoughts of 

 thefe two fpecimens fent you from Bath ; I offer you my 

 thoughts frankly, as to a brother of the College, though a 

 fuperior judge in this matter to myfelf. 



I indeed think neither of the two fpecimens you fent me 

 are correctly dried, nor cured to advant^e, either for medi- 

 cinal ufes, or commerce. You do not fee prevailing over 

 the pieces you fent me,, the nutmeg-looking grain in thefe 

 roots, fuch as has a funilarity to the colour of the flower of 

 the plant when in its perfcdtion, wliich I afcribe either to 

 tlie roots not being of fufficient agej (that is, five or fix 

 years at leaft) or what my gardener (the bearer) fufpedts, 

 the roots have been too gradually dried, and not in a place 

 fuffifiently well aired and warm in a proper degree, confe- 



quently 



