This diary records the daily gardening activities of William Mills in series of gardens. As well as listing work undertaken Mills makes occasional comments on plants including their varieties, source and condition as well as the weather. There are also some passages of gardening advice, lists of plant varieties, a description of a Table Decoration and instructions for constructing a Lawn Tennis court.

As recorded on the front endleaves, Mills was employed as a gardener on a number of estates: Ellison, St Boswell`s, 1894-1897; Fotheringham, Forfar, 1897-1899; Saltoun Hall, 1899-1902; Ayton Castle, 1902-1903; Philiphaugh, Selkirk, 1903-1904; Tyninghame, 1904-1905 and again at Ayton Caslte, 1905-1908. The diary starts in 1898 when Mills worked at Fotheringham.