Alexander suggests that one of them should try to get the fertile mule, and that he is happy to purchase her if need be. He reports that Sir Charles Assheton Smith has purchased a zebra hybrid for £200.

Alexander asks whether Ewart wishes to purchase a Mysore bull from him. He is lame but well-behaved, and Alexander would take £10 to save him from going to the butcher. He reports that his filly was hard to handle but is settling down, while her dam should foal soon although she has not wintered well and looks in poor condition. He complains that his pair of Pallas's cats are not healthy.

Alexander reports that his pregnant mare has died. He asks whether Ewart would like to take on all of his fat-rumped ewes for £10. He has a donkey very near foaling by the mule 'Jacob', which proves that he can still get stock. He states that can give Ewart the breeding of the sheep if he saw them.

Alexander writes that he doesn't have very many old sheep but plenty of piebalds and shearling rams for 30 shillings each as well as a black ewe which interested Elwes. He asks Ewart to let him know which sheep he wants as he must send all his spare stock to market due to the drought.

Martin advises Ewart that his notion of keeping a farm at Crosswoodburn is impractical for financial reasons. He says he is glad that 'the two hybrids' have gone to Mountain Batteries as he hopes it may lead to them being bred in India. He also mentions that Ewart 'should get a big price for 'Romulus' (Ewart's first zebra hybrid) now as he is a hybrid with a past'. He encourages Ewart to publicise his findings from his hare-rabbit cross-breeding.

Gordon hopes that the ewe and spotted lamb arrived safely in Leith. He provides details about the price his lambs fetched in Aberdeen. He writes that he is going on with the excavation of the Brough and has found some stone implements as well as the bones of horses, cattle and sheep, which he offers to send to Ewart for investigation.

Gordon writes that he would like to purchase a pure Siberian ram from Ewart, his last one having died through fighting. He suggests that Ewart makes enquiries concerning the transportation of the ram by steamer from Leith to Shetland. He reports that he has got an excellent crop of Shetland lambs and offers to send Ewart any that may be of interest.

Gordon writes that unfortunately nobody in the district is selling a Shetland heifer in calf, but that he would be willing to put an advertisement in the Shetland News for Ewart. He reports that he doesn't have any crosses between Blackface tups and Moorit ewes, but that he will set aside any long-woolled Moorits he comes across for Ewart. He also offers to send him a white pure Shetland tup lamb with three horns.

Contains personal diaries, notes relating to animal maintenance, breeding and selling breeding, a visitors' book and address books. Some items are undated.

The notes record the prices of various sheep and ponies bought or sold over the 1911-1918 period. One piece of paper is dated 1920, and appears to refer to the calculations as being related to grants made by the Board of Agriculture and to payments made to the Factor.