The Natural History of Selborne

Cut 31 cucumbers.  Fly-catcher still appears.

Mr Hale begins his hops near the Pound field.  Farmer Hoar says that during this late blowning weather his well was raised some rounds of the rope.

Hop-picking begins in Hartley gardens.  Cut 96 cucumbers.

My potatoes come in, & are good.

Gathered kidney-beans, scarlet.  Cut 80 cucumbers.

Many creatures are endowed with a ready discernment to see what will turn to their own advantage & emolument; & will often discover more sagacity than could be expected.  Thus Benham’s poultry watch for waggons loaded with wheat, & running after them pick up a number of grains which are shaken from the sheaves by the agitation of the carriages.  Thus when my brother used to take down his gun to shoot sparrows, his cats would run out before him to be ready to pick up the birds as they fell.

John White called in his way from Funtington to Salisbury.  The whole country is one rich prospect of harvest scenery!!  Fern-owl glances along over my hedges.

The young men left us, & went to Funtington.  A second crop of beans, long pods, come in. Sweet day, golden eve, red horizon.  Some what of an autumnal feel.

Timothy grazes.  John White came from Salisbury.  Cut 133 more cucumbers.  Michaelmas daisies begin to blow.  Farmer Spencer, & Farmer Knight make each a noble wheat-rick: the crop very good, & in fine order.

Holt White, & Harry Woods came from Fyfield.