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Transcription

[Page] 114
[continued from page 113]

comparatively early age, taken to gardening
and after some considerable time passed
in the Botanic Gardens and with Messrs
Cunningham & Fraser, had eventually ended
as a jobbing gardener with Notman at
Davidson’s Mains. To me, he was indispensible.
Though somewhat slack. he was willing,
pleasant and knowledgeable. From his training
he had a great knowledge of plants, especially
of Alpines, and under his care and guidance
my collection grew and in the Alpine houses
we grew many rare Alpines and had ac:
:quired a fine small collection of show
Auriculas. He hired in the Village, and,
if I was from home over weekend or
for longer, Robb managed to keep an eye
on the plants. With his death all that
has changed. The man or men, for I
have two working on two days a week, are
good enough kitchen gardeners, but neither knows
anything of the culture of Alpines, in fact one is
merely an indifferent labourer while the other is
busy making up for his fellow workman’s deficiencies
So it is that I must abandon my collection
of plants in my Alpine house before they
perish from lack of attention, when I happen

to be absent from home. Already all my stage
Auriculas have gone to the Botanic Gardens!
where they were allowed to perish by the Curator planting them out in his own garden!!
At times I almost entirely lose interest in my
garden, so neglected has it become. Hedges are
unpruned: crops perish from lack of attention
e.g. [for example] the fly has taken all the carrots, and weeds
abound everywhere.
I take a great delight in the birds that
frequent my garden and, especially, the
rose beds in front of the house. In the centre space
between the beds is a bird bath, which we
endeavour always to keep well filled. I shall
set down a list of the birds which are generally
present in season - Song Thrush, Black bird,
Starling; House Sparrow; Tree sparrow, Hedge Sparrow;
Green Finch; Rose Linnet, Yellow Hammer, Robin;
Water Wagtail, Chaffinch; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Chiff-
-Chaff; Wren. In the air:- Swallow, House Martin, Swift;
Rook, Carrion Crow (v. [very] occasionally) Sparrow Hawk & Kestrel. At times.
Pheasant; Partridges, Pigeon. tawny owl. Seen on agricultural
land across the railway. Mallard, Magpies; wood
pigeons: Curlew; Green plover; Golden plover etc.

15th Sept. 1943
This afternoon as I entered the gate, three bullfinches
rose from among the blue poppies, where they had,
no doubt, been feeding on the seeds. It is the first
time that I have clearly seen these birds here.
[continued on page 115]

  Transcribers who have contributed to this page.

Jane F Jamieson