TO HIS GARDENER 35 



Alex** Cokb: some morning early before others get up and value 

 them without taking notice to any, and let me know the kinds, 

 numbers of each kind and their values. I mean from the 

 South West Corner of the Garden Wall all the way as far as 

 the planting goes to the Road leading down to Runshy hall, for 

 I think if I can have time, I will plant these two Rows this 

 Winter aud cut down about Christmas every stick that stands 

 in the way west of the Garden Wall, either of the trees to be 

 planted or between them. As I have so much ditching in 

 hand, I won"'t make the addition to the Nursery till next year, 

 but if I can I will plant out the Walk west. How many 

 Beeches will it take for the two Rows. I have forgot. Read 

 this Letter over particularly and give me full and distinct 

 answers to each article, looking it over again to see that you 

 omit nothing. 



What is above was begun on Saturday and the rest of it 

 written last night before the Post's coming for fear of Inter- 

 rupting. I have your's of 26*^ last month. I am sorry so 

 little is done to the Roads and I fear the cutting of the Hills 

 and making the Bridge can be of little Service this year for 

 the reason above given. I inclined to have carried all straight 

 on and not have j umped from one thing to another. I never saw 

 work go right on where they did not keep steadily to one thing 

 till finished. I do think it would have been no great work 

 if the people upon my own Estate had made in one season 

 all the Road ^ from where left off last year, as far down as you 

 tell me it is done, without help. It is well done so far as they 

 have gone. I fear the Bridge and the Hills being spoiled this 

 Winter if not very completely finished, and no cart can get 

 at them from either hand in Winter. If care is not taken to 

 gather Stones upon some of Alex"* Wight's fields near by for 

 the Road of south side, down to Runshy hall, before the corn 

 is sown again, we shall have none in the Spring without going 

 a great way for them, and so if none are gathered upon David's 

 ground for mending at back of the Haining we shall have none, 

 at least none near, for next Summer's Work of that side. I 



1 Feudal services from the tenants included the making of roads. Cf. corvee in 

 France. A sentence later on shows road-making material was obtained from 

 the fields. 



