WCP49

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset

April 20th. 1902

My dear Will¹

This week there is almost nothing to report except that the walls have gone a little up but mostly the inside walls, so that the outside remains the same. Bricks are still scarce though we have enough to go on with, — but bricklayers do not come although I have told Percy he can engage 2 more whenever they can be had. The first-floor joists will be going in soon and then the walls will go up quick to the roof line. The weather being a little warmer has brought out the vipers & the men have killed 3 — They seem to harbour in the dwarf gorse to N.E. of house. [2] The trees of the orchard are mostly showing leaf & bud now and in another week or so will be fully out.

As regard electric bells, will you write out a little specification of work to be done which you can do from the plans. With the front & back doors and one in each room there will be 12 points in all. I can then get an estimate & have the wires &c. put in as soon as the roof & windows are completed.

Last Thursday Ma², Violet³, Miss Buckton & self went to Corfe by the 8.50 train, had the waggonette from Kingston to meet us — Violet walked up — had breakfast at 10.45, as usual — then through the primrose wood & over down [3] to Encombe waterfall, & back by the primrose lake & drove to Kingston — tea there, & back to Corfe for 5.7 train. — It was a lovely day, bright sunshine & a fine breeze & we all enjoyed it very much, & Ma dug up about 50 blue-bell roots which I planted next day on a clay bank at bottom of the E. wood. There are millions in the wood easy to get up, & when you come in the summer we must have a day there and bring home about 1000 each so as to stock our wood nicely.

[This sentence is written up the left margin of page] The mud walls are of some outhouse/

I have just finished a fine large pond in the hollow near the mud walls, which we find was really the site of the old house there being many bricks found & the site a very pretty one looking down the [4] orchard. I hope to move the red water lilies into it this week as this is the best time, and I shall get one or two of the good yellow & white kinds. It has an area of about 400 feet super, and a max depth of a little over two feet. The garden generally is beginning to look nice, and Pennington the gardener goes on very well and I think takes an interest in everything. I have been there every fine day except our excursion day, and always find something to look after. I expect we shall have plenty of peas & beans & a few other vegetables this summer, and more in the autumn & winter. That about finishes my budget.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace — [signature]