The Natural History of Selborne

Lovely weather, red even.  True Michaelmas summer.

Gathered-in the apples, knobbed russets, & non-pareils.  Royal russets none.  All the baking pears were blown down.  No dearlings.

My wall-nut tree near the stable, which is usually barren, produces this year 5, or 600 nuts: the sort is very fine.  The vast tree at the bottom of the garden bears every year, but the nuts are bad.  Charles White, & Harry Woods came from Fyfield.

Black snails lie out, & copulate.  Vast swagging clouds.

Thunder: rather the guns at Portsmouth.  Splendid rain-bow.  After three weeks wet, this vivid rain-bow preceded (as I have often known before) a lovely fit of weather.  Mr & Mrs Richardson left us.

Green wheat in the N. field.  Stormy wind all night, which has blown down most of my apples & pears.

Fungi on the hanger are Clavaria, several sorts: Boleti, several.  Mr & Mrs Richardson came.

Ivy begins to blow on Nore-hill & is frequented by wasps.  Pd for a wasps nest, full of young.

Planted from Mr Etty’s garden a root of the Arum dracunculus, or Dragons; a species rarely to be seen; but has been in the vicarage-garden ever since the time of my Grandfather, who dyed in spring 1727/8.

Mr Yalden’s tank is full.  Brought down by Brother Thomas White from South Lambeth & planted in my borders:  Dog toothed violets.  Persian Iris.  Quercus cerris.  Double ulmaria.  Double filipendula.  Callis.  White fox-glove.  Iron fox-glove.  Double wall-flower.  Double scarlet lychinis.