Series 3 > Selections from the Monymusk Papers, 1713-1775

92
MONYMUSK PAPERS
canasses for wining fir seeds and tubs and barous and a
pan for filling them for watering all plants that needs.
Alex1 Gordon.
May 5th, 1722.
Sir, This week I have had att work Androw Couper,
Wiliam Adam, Wiliam Wynes, and all the dayes they
have wrought this week makes ten of on man, and ther
are firs planted 12000 in thicket. I have a greate number
of small firs and ashes that wass taken upp timeslie in
order to be replanted in the nurserie but canot gett men
to doe them in season. Ther is in haile planted in the
Moor tuenti fouer thousand firs and now I ame planting
the small fires in the nursrie although it be too latte I
canot help it.
Alex1 Gordon.
John Middleton to Sir Archibald Grant,
29th May, 1722
(Gardener at Pitfeichie)
Pitfeichie, 29th of May, 1722.
Honoured Sir, Since ye was at Mony Musk I planted out
ye north border of ye Gardin and transplanted a parsell of
ye youngest ashes from Pitfeichie and gadred about 3000
young keys of ash, plaines & birch ; and planted all ye
above writen in weell trenched ground and did sou 14
ounce of firr seed and ye nuts. The firrs are doing very
weell as all so ye hedges and oyr trees.
I have levelled ye 2 walks in ye lower end of the Gardin
at 12 foot broad, & 190 yairds in length is levelled and I
am levelling the middle walk at present; and I have
according to your order entred 2 men to assiste me to cary
on ye work, but ye loss will be your own that will not
allowe mor, for the ground having once gaddred a sward
of grass 4 men will not work what 3 will doe now, besides
the hinderance of the perfecting of ye work in time.
Ye bees are working very weell in ther new quarters and