_14th Aug., 1706._ Ric. Baker, Gardener with Lionel Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. To serve his Lordship as Gardener at Knole for the term of one year ½ to begin in March 1706. That he will reserve all the fruit which shall be growing in the garden for his Lordship’s use. That he will at his own charge during the said term preserve all Trees and Greens now in the garden, and will maintain the trees in good husbandlike manner by pruning and trimming, dunging and marling the same in seasonable times, and likewise at his own charge will provide all herbs and other things convenient for my Lord’s kitchen there when in season. He undertakes to maintain at his own charge all such walks as are now in ye said Garden, by mowing, cleaning, and rolling the same, and will preserve all such flowers and plants as are now in the gardens, and that he will be at all the charges of repairing all the glass frames, etc. belonging to the Garden Trade, and will provide for the present use of the Gardens 50 loads of dung.
In return for this service he was to be allowed £30 per annum, and
rooms and conveniences in the house for his business, and to hand all such dung, etc. as shall be made about the house for the use of ye gardens, and that he may have the privilege of disposing [for his own use] all such beans, peas, cabbages, and other kitchen herbs as shall be spared, over and above that what is used in my Lord’s kitchen.
£ _s._ _d._ _April 28, 1718._ Planting trees in new Oak Walk, 5 men, 8 to 18 days each 3 12 4 Planting walnut trees round the Keeper’s lodge, 3 men, 5 days each at 1/2 each per day 0 17 6 Cutting Bows in the yew at end of new Oak Walk 0 2 4
_November 11, 1723._ Cutting and levelling new walk in ye Wilderness and making ye mount round ye Oak tree, 8 men, 5 to 11 days each 3 10 0 Alterations made in the Fruit Walks, 16 men, from 14 to 43 days each 23 19 10 Cutting 10,600 turfs at 8_d._ per 100 3 10 8 Planting ye quarry in the Park 6 7 0 10 May Duke Cherries in ye garden 0 6 8 6 peach and nectarine trees in ye garden 0 12 0 2400 quick-set for ye kitchen garden 0 12 0 1000 holly for ye kitchen garden 0 10 0 Planting 2000 small beeches in ye park 0 18 6 200 Pear stocks 0 6 0 300 Crab stocks 0 3 0 200 Cherry stocks 0 6 0 500 Holly stocks 0 5 0 700 Hazel stocks 1 15 0 For new making the Mulberry garden and sowing ye front walk with seed 14 12 9 20 Gascon Cherry trees 0 10 0 50 bushels sweet apples for cyder 2 10 0 1 bushel Buckwheat for ye Pheasants 0 3 6 10,000 seedling beeches for my Lady Germaine 0 10 0