V 
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Dr. George W. Mast 
Nepera Chemical CcmpaiQr 
Tonkwa 2, Sew York 
Dear Dr. Mastt 
Shortly before leaving for the Belgian Congo last March I had the 
pleasure of making the acquaintance of your Dr. Fred A. Barclay at the Cosmos 
Club in company with a mutual friend, Ellsworth Klllip, Dr, Barclay suggested 
that I save some soil samples, drying and sacking them in plastic bags. This 
I did. There are some sixty samples, mostly froa the Belgian Congo but a 
few frm the Sudan along the upper reaches of the Hile. Would you be 
interested in having them for biotic a8say,<>or should I say anti-biotic assay? 
If so I shall express them to you through our official (Channels. 
I realise that this examination will be an undertaking of considerable 
magnitude and a gamble at bestj but seme very wonderful and valuable things 
do sometimes come out of soil samples. }foy this happen in this case, tool 
Hay I be so forward at this time to express the hope that the Institution 
be permitted some reasonable share in any profits that may possibly result 
from your examination of these sai^les, if only to replenish the Smithsonian- 
Sredin Fund which made the expedition possible. 
The samples are at present in 'Uie custody of Willis H. Wheeler of 
the Dnited States I^pax^ment of Agriculture, who will reLease them if he can 
be assured that you will properly safeguard this unfumigated material as 
required by the Depasrfcment. 
If you are interested and will acc^t them. Dr. %eeler will then write 
you regarding the Department's regulations before shiptent is made. 
Sincerely, 
