draft 
J 
Dr. George W. Mast 
Nepera Chemical Company 
Yonkers 2 , New York 
Dear Dr. Mast: 
Shortly before leaving for the Belgian Congo last Mai*cb 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 Killip. Dr. Barclay suggested 
that I save some soil sauiples, dryin * * ’ in plastic bags. This 
I did. There are some sixty samples ^mostly frcati the Belgian Congo but a 
few from the Sudan along the upper reaches of the Nile. Would you be 
interested in having them for biotic assay, -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. May this happen in -this case, tool 
May 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 samples, if only to replenish the Smithsonian- 
Bredin Fund which made the expedition possible. 
The samples are at present in the custody of IV. Vhllis H. Wheeler of 
the United States Department of Agriculture, who will release than if he can 
be assured that you will properly safeguard this unfumigated material as 
required by the Department. 
If you are interested and will accept them. Dr. Wheeler will then write 
you regarding the Department's regulations before shipment is made. 
Sincerely, 
4 / ^ 
