88 ORMISTOUN'S LETTERS 



Don't give whole Settings to any others that the more people 

 may have of the best hens and that the Breed may diffuse 

 itself the better over all my ground, if theyl take Eggs and 

 keep the white leg'd well top'd Chickens, and particularly fine 

 large Cocks. Give 4 Eggs to every one at Alex^ Cok's that 

 each of them may have the beginning of a Stock if they 1 be at 

 the pains. I am glad that Wright at House in the Muir has 

 got Eggs. Give 4 good ones to Will™ Cokburne. They two will 

 in time stock that neighbourhood. Nay if any of the Colliers 

 or the Cottars at Westbyres and Runchiehall will take Eggs 

 and promise to keep the Chickens, let each have 4 that our 

 nearest neighbours may be stocked. If any Village has not 

 all good the bad espicially cocks will spoil the Breed of them 

 who have good. Let all white pidgeons fly and none else. 

 Sell all Sandy, Spotted or Blue. Let me know every one takes 

 Eggs and the number of pidgeons you let fly. 



Before this getts to you I hope the Wood and Red Meadows 

 are planted. Observe what I wrote to J. Dods about the fences 

 and hedges. Now is the Season for doing as I wrote and putting 

 them all in good order. You never told me if you sounded 

 any about the Acres for planting and what each said. You 

 don't tell me if the drains are finished in pan meadow. If the 

 pidgeon dung is sown how far it went, and if the rest is sow'd 

 with soot ? I wish all this may have been done before the Snow 

 as snow carries dung down to the ground more than rain. 

 Read this over when you write that you may be sure to omit 

 no one particular but that you answer each fully and also every 

 other thing that shall occur. 



Tell J. Dods that I am against Sowing the Barley and 

 Clover ^ till the Weeds have had some time to spring and that 

 the mould is very fine by ploughing harrowing or cloding if 

 necessary and the Wrack ^ taken out carefully. Better delay 

 sowing till middle of next month or till about monday the 



^ Evidence that at this date the modem practice was followed. Bishop 

 Gawain Douglas, in his poems, speaks of red clover as a garden flower under 

 its modern dialect name, *suckey.' 



"^ Weeds gathered on the field and piled up in heaps for burning ; same word as 

 wreck, 'wrack and ruin.' It refers specially to the most troublesome weed, 

 quitch or couch-grass, commonly known in Scotland as quickens. 



