Copying Book: Supt's Letters, 1879-1880 (page 18)

18

August 6 [187]9

Mrs Mary E. Stearns

Dear Madam

I have delayed replying to your
note to Mr MacKintosh in order to make careful in-
quiry about the lot, and I can find no reason to think
that either bulbs or myrtle have been removed from your
lot.

A large number of tulips hyacinths & crocuses were
planted on the ornamental grounds near the front gate
last fall, which shared the fate of yours and I satis-
fied myself perfectly that they were destroyed by the
squirrels.

As to the myrtle, all which is ordered, is raised at
our greenhouses outside of the grounds, where we can
get all the slips which we need. Early in the spring
the myrtle is trimmed with shears to cut out the old wood
but it soon fills up again and does all the better for
the cutting. This may be what you refer to, but this is done
solely for the good of the plants, and the cuttings are never
used for slips. I regret that anything has happened about
your lot to annoy you & will certainly do all I can to prevent
any further annoyance.

Yours respectfully
J. W. Lovering