TO HIS GARDENER 51 



plenty of water also this Summer, to recover their late sowing 

 or late planting. But pains will be wanting even tho' 

 accidents or seasons require double. For example not only 

 water but soft water will be wanted. Here they are at pains 

 even to soften their water which generally is softer than ours, 

 with us no pains to soften our water which naturally is much 

 harder. To save trouble in that we generally take the saving 

 way and give little water, never enough to any thing, and so 

 comes of such Laziness, for by our saving necessary trouble we 

 generally lose what we do take, from things being good for 

 nothing. Things should not be undertaken or gone through 

 with no profit from half doing and as little Credit. Much 

 have I said, wrote and repeated over and over in my time to this 

 purpose, tho to little purpose as to prevailing with the people 

 to apply to what they undertake with the care and activity 

 necessary for bringing the business to bear to most advantage 

 for themselves. So many Hogs for saving a little Tar are lost 

 in no Country as in our's.^ 



So far I was yesterday when your Bro*" John ^ came in. He 

 told me your Bro^ Adam had been with him and went in a 

 Ship sailed some days ago. Craig the Water Man was wrong 

 in not letting me know of the Ship, but I think your Bro^ 

 might have called upon me and asked if I had any thing to 

 send. If he had I would not only have given him what I have 

 but I would have sent an Express to M^ Lowther for his Seeds. 

 I have wrote twice to him but no answer. I suppose he 

 delays that till he sends all on board and has let the first ships 

 sail without his Seeds. You see what it is not to think of 

 things in time. You might have had all at once, I am sure I 

 put you in mind in time. Will your Bro'^ Adam make good 

 use of what John has given him ? If he does he may get 

 forward in the world. Still if he does not I believe he'l see 

 no more from that Quarter. John says such as he learns 

 Idleness at Edenburgh and are carried from their business by 

 Company and other things there more than they would be in 



^ Refers to the old custom of smearing sheep, more familiar to Bell than to 

 the modern reader, pp. 70 and 80. 

 2 He is called Cousin John, p. i. 



