480 j ASSEAIBLIJ 



to open m the evening when the flower was pure white, and about a 

 foot in diameter. Next day, towards evening, it began to assume a 

 beautiful red color in its centre, and during the night it was complete- 

 ly expanded. Its numerous external petals were bent up and rested 

 on the water. On the evening of the third day it perished ; while 

 in bloom the flower exhaled a peculiar and agreeable perfume, resem- 

 bling ripe fruits. The leaves (the largest of them) measured about 

 thirteen feet in circumference. The leaf and stem were so strong 

 that a small child was very well supported upon one of them for some 

 time. 



Waskingtoii' s Agriculture^ and his projected Board of Agriculture. — 

 •In his letter of February 20, 1786, in relation to a Board of Agricul- 

 ture for the United States, he says, " Doubts having arisen from pe- 

 culiar calls on the Treasury of this country, for money (occasioned 

 by the expenses of our wars with the Indians, the redemption of our 

 captives at Algiers, obtaining peace with the Regency of Morocco, to- 

 gether with other demands, in addition to the ordinary expenses of 

 government,) that funds could wuth difiiculty be provided to answer 

 them without imposing additional taxes, a measurse wished to be 

 avoided. I was restrained after consulting one or two influential 

 members of the Legislature, from introducing your plan for a contri- 

 bution ; and under these circumstances, I avoided communicating the 

 ^' Extracts from the minutes of the proceeding of the Board of Ag- 

 riculture, respecting Elkington's mode of draining, &c,," except to one 

 eentleman in whom I had entire confidence, and who I knew was 

 always disposed to promote measures of utility. 



" These being the grounds of my proceedings, I shall hope, although 

 your expectations have been disappointed, you will receive this as an 

 evidence of my candor. 



"Agreeably to your desire, I have put ' Outlines of the 15th chap- 

 ter of the proposed general report from the Board of Agriculture, on 

 the subject of manures,' into the hands of one of the most judicious 

 farmers within my reach ; and when his observations thereon are 

 received, they shall be transmitted to you. I wish my own en- 

 gagements would allow me to attend more than I do to these agree- 



