The Natural History of Selborne

The fruit of the wild merry-trees being now ripe, diverts the thrushes &c. from eating the currans, goose-berries, &c.: therefore useful in outlets.

Wallnuts & hazel-nuts abound. One bank-martin at Combwood-pond: the only one I ever saw so far from the forest.

Few turnips are yet sown: they were prevented first by the dry weather, & then by the rain.

The water shines in the fallows.  Much damage done about London by lightening on July 20.

Sowed first endive.  Planted-out Savoys, choux de Milan, cabbages, &c.  The ground works well, & falls very fine.  Sowed parsley, which has failed before.  Planted out more annuals.

Much thunder. Some people in the village were struck down by the storm, but not hurt.  The stroke seemed to them like a violent push or shove.  The ground is well-soaked.  Wheat much lodged.  Frogs migrate from the ponds.

We have never had rain enough to lay the dust since saturday June 13: now five weeks.  By watering the fruit-trees we have procured much young wood.  The thermometer belonging to my brother Thomas White of South Lambeth was in the most shady part of his garden on July 5th & July 14th: up at 88, a degree of heat not very common even at Gibraltar!! July 5: Thermr at Lyndon in Rutland 85.

The little pond on our common has still plenty of water! ponds in bottoms are dry.

Bestowed great waterings in the garden.

Finished cutting the hedges. Watered the garden. Many ponds are dry. Much hay ricked.

* The young martins that were hatched June 11th began to come-out of their nest July 7th, so that they arrive at their maturity in somewhat less than a month. A colony of black ants comes forth every midsummer from under my stair-case, which stands in the middle of the house; & as soon as the males & females (which fill all the windows & rooms) are flown away, the workers retire under the stairs & are seen no more. It does not appear how this nest can have any communication with the garden or yard; & if not, how can these ants subsist in perpetual darkness & confinement!