The day-books give detailed accounts of experiments and developments in the production of colours using original recipes and ideas from as far afield as Turkey and France. The colours produced were then used to dye for example, cotton, linen, silk, and woollens. Some specimen products are included in the volumes. Six of the Day books, MSS. 17962-7967, relate to Anderston print works, Glasgow, and probably belonged to Patrick Mitchell who was General Manager there until his purchase of the Milton works in 1817. He remained at Milton until his death in 1848.