"...Don't forget the seeds for the garden of which I wrote to you I want also a little sweed [sic] turnip and some carrot seed, both white and red for the horses..."
"How is John getting on with the garden and the field. I agree with you that the sooner we stop the expense the better, but I should like to see the place made neat and finished round the house particularly as you may spend the summer there..."
"...bring about 1/2 dozen of the small wallflowers..."
"Tell the Witten man that I am preparing a garden, which shall be his...therefore if he intends to garden he had better bring up his tools.."
"...Does Mashell feed Bobby well, if not she will go off her milk...Mashell ought to have a couple of hours every day to work in the garden. I would like the vacant places trenched deeply and close, make him sink deep into the clay otherwise it is no use. How about the hens?"
"...Let me know how Mashell has behaved, and how Dan is looking, and if Bobby gives her usual quantity of milk and the hens enough eggs. Has Mashell done anything in the garden?"
"How does the garden look, have you had any more cabbages planted, don't forget to have a good supply of winter vegetables put in, such as Brussels sprouts, Curleys..."
"My own darling husband...I did not go out to drive on Friday but spent the day with the children in the garden thinking constantly of you and of how constantly you laboured to leave it all in order for us. The place is looking very pretty the grass has been cut all over and is springing again. The stocks and the wall flowers are in beautiful bloom and the laursestinus in front of our bedroom window has at least come out and looks lovely how I wish you could see it. The roses I got from Mitchell are not very successful, they will not bloom this year I fear it was too late I suppose to transplant them. I wandered all round the place - one or two of the brooms and the two gorse plants are in blossom, the Mays and laburnums are all alive and the laburnum near the croquet ground actually one blossom coming out - the lilacs are going to blossom, the one from Yale, Mr. McCrea's and the Persian: the Accacia trees are not in leaf yet but are both equally showing buds.
The sun was very hot and I could not put out the plants I brought down until the evening. I had also to put out those sent down by Mrs. Dewdney which I found need not been undone, only standing in a bucket of water, amongst them was an accadia (small) but with a beautiful root. I have put it in the vegetable garden under the hedge and also the root cuttings Mrs. D. (Dewdney) sent as I thought they would stand a better chance there, she also sent four gladiolus roots - I assure you I could not have finished or have to handle the south briar if Rose's husband had not helped me. He dug the hole for me and lifted it from the box - it is just under our bedroom window towards the Drakes. The rose I have planted in front. I am so glad that the Wisteria is actually growing. I was very tired but I persevered 'til all were planted and you can think how much I missed you, dear one and how lonely I felt tho' the little man is a great talker and a great worker.
"...I am glad to hear the place is looking so well...be sure you notice what effect the liquid manure has on the grass, if it is not diluted with water, it will, I fear, do more harm than good and I hope you have been able to get Jack to haul the black loam, even for a few days, we cannot have too much of it, the soil in the garden is so hard and full of clay.
"Mashell ought to pull the weeds out of the croquet ground very carefully as not to injure the young grass, after the rain is the best time and it should be watered after being weeded - with the liquid manure mixed with water.
"...I hope you will go round the place every day, at least once, and see that Mashell is employed - have the windfall apples gathered, and make him watch the Drake chickens carefully. I told him to take the front shoes off Dan, see that he does so...I have told Mashell to turn the heap of earth in the garden, this should be done before the rain falls if possible..."
"...You know I have no confidence in him so pray exert yourself and visit the stable every day and see that the horse is properly cleaned - he should devote at least two hours each day to him to make up in some measure for the neglect of last time, see also that he does the work I told him about and be careful not to let him know when I am coming back, the more black soil he hauls the better, also a few loads of clean gravel. Get the apples and pears sent from Govt. house spread out somewhere, the little dressing room would do very well if you would keep it locked and the mouse trap constantly set, don't forget to make Mashell set the rat trap in the carriage house and loft alternately and a mouse trap constantly in the harness room..."
"...don't let them neglect to save the bath water, and to make Filton use it on the trees."
"...I hope you have had the grass cut on the croquet ground if it is short it need not be raked off the ground at all. I am told it is a better plan to leave it on the ground."
"Don't neglect to preserve the raspberries, and currants. Joe said you could have all the Black Currants you wanted from Government House garden and make Wannacott bring you a few cherries while they last. - see that Wannacott hauls as much manure and black soil as possible..."
"I hope you are having your share of it at Victoria, be sure to get the grass on croquet ground cut regularly and the strawberry runners should be removed, Frank could do this as well as anyone, if he would commence at one side of the bed and clear off three or four rows at a time...If you have strawberries to spare you ought to send a few to Zoe..."
"...Make the old Chinaman fill the water tanks once or twice a week and the mower should be oiled and run over the croquet ground at once, and at least once a week and don't forget to have the trees and shrubs well watered. I hope you will be very particular about the children going near the bath house or the water, I am always nervous about them..."
"Don't forget to have the oat hay raked up and when quite dry carried to the shed, it ought not to occupy much time...Pay all the bills you can. See that the old green blanket is put on the horse instead of the rag he had on and be particular to put blanket him when you stop anywhere out driving."
"...I hope you will make a rule of going round the place every day notice things and take Charley in hand to make him of use...If the apples are not attended to they will soon be all destroyed, if picked over now, you can give away a good many and have an ample supply for yourself...".
"...We eat the strawberries that dear Puss pulled and Frank had a couple of biscuits at 11...Make Fung cut the croquet ground every week, the machine wants oil. Look after Sini, and have the water all saved and used."
"...Frank wants me to tell Puss to take care of his garden, and not to pull all the flowers as he intends to save the seed...I hope the hay is made up and has not had too much sun, see that the Chinaman works he should do up the manure heap in the field as I directed him, keep the weeds down in the garden, and cut wood. I hope you have made your strawberry jam and will do all you can in that way before I return..."
"...We have had a tedious passage so far and rain incessantly since leaving Westminster...watch for a few hours dry weather to have the grass cut on croquet ground, and have all the pears carefully picked. You will find a few in my top drawer in bedroom - they are now delicious..."
"...I am glad you have had the trees planted, you have not I hope, forgotten to put in a lot of the young broom trees and be sure to have the seeds sown in the garden soon, after an abundant supply of manure has been dug in, you don't say if Jay had sent the cabbage plants I ordered...I hope Frank has not forgotten that there is a hen under a box in hen house. The hen house should be cleaned out occasionally when none of the hens are on their nests..."
"If the grass shows any sign of growing on croquet ground make Sing use the mowing machine freely, the trees on the road, as well as all those inside should be well watered..."
"...Make the Chinaman bestir himself, particularly about the hay, should the weather permit, and make preparations to have the carriage cushions stuffed..."
"...I wish you would look after the Chinaman sometimes. I have an idea that he does little or nothing when I am away..."
"...Make the Chinaman or Schofield or some see that the potatoes in the field are not stolen by crows or blue jays also the apples."
"...Alice Ward went with me to gather some ferns for Mama's dinner partie.[sic]
"...I am glad to hear dear one that you have been about so much, all will go well if you will but take a look now and then - don't let Sing forget to fill the tub in the field with water, also the box and for the fowl - without it they will die...I am very glad to know Mc. McKay has taken up his abode at Point Ellice, you must now feel quite at rest..."
"...You will I hope, dear one look after the outside work as well as that inside the house. Next week will be a busy one and lots of visitors Queens birthday and so get all done you can. The cow will I hope be all right, see that she has plenty of fresh water twice each day."
"Mother spent the morning in the kitchen. I attended to the plants. Mother went to Turner, Beeton & Co. and the Custom House, whilst I exercised the horse..."
January
"...picked violets"
January 3
"wet day...Father about the shrubberies. I went out to pick violets in afternoon..."
January 19
"...Mr. Dowell came to lunch and picked a lot of violets..."
January 28
"...Rained a good deal, very stormy day. Uncle Joe came to lunch and promised to go to the dance with us."
February 22
"...After lunch went up to see Frank's new carpentering shop."
March 18
"...Quantities of violets in the garden."
May 24
"Queen's birthday. Lovely day. Sat at the Point all the afternoon. Sir M. to lunch.
July 16
"...Very hot day...Had a pic-nic dinner on the rocks..."
| 50 Cent Beauty Collection | |
|---|---|
| Gladiolus, Addison | Brenchleyensis |
| Ceres | Isaac Buchanan |
| John Bull | Mad. Monnerett |
| Fatma | Octoroon |
| Reine Blanche | Mary |
| Pepita | Napoleon III |
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