Journal entry – John Grey – 17 Jul 1834

Thursday 17th July



After attending to matters in the Office, I rode through the Farms of Highwood & Westwood to Coastley where I am trying to improve some boggy Ground by draining & to better some Land on a Hill side which is much too steep to be properly cultivated, put through a good following, for the purpose of being laid down to permanent Grass.  I shall regret if poor Coulson cannot get on now with his Farm.  He takes more pains & has better ideas of cultivation, than most of our Tenants.  I have had occasion to remark upon the short supply of Water that has been provided for an expensive Machine erected upon this Farm, and the consequent Loss & inconvenience sustained by the Tenant, who cannot Thresh but at particular Seasons.  [Marginal annotation in pencil: ‘Would it be worth while even now to remove the machine to the more appropriate site, the tenat bearing a reasonable portion of the Charge. Ask this.’] There is a constant and abundant supply of water in Coastley Burn, which might have been used at pleasure, had the Machine barn been placed in a lower situation, as it is, this supply could only be had by diverting the stream from its course at nearly a Miles distance, & then it must be carried across the ravine of the boggle Wood, at an expense which coming upon the former expenditure, I should not be justified in recommending.  I have never been at the place without considering this subject, & endeavouring to devise a remedy.  And on examining it particularly today, & observing the Waste Water from the present Reservoir  which is at too great a distance from the Barn, as well as that from some Drains & Springs which might be had a lower Level, I think the least expensive improvement that can be made, is to construct another reservoir of small size, which can be done probably, including the sluice, for £20 near to the Barn to catch all the Water that rises below the level of the other, as well as to retain a larger supply on hand at all times, as a provision against a dry season.  From Coastley I went to Highside & Bagraw , to see into what state of repair the Premises had been put for the new Tenant, who seems to be an industrious, steady man & inclined to manage that poor Farm in a judicious way, by using it more in Pasture & less in Corn than hitherto.