The Natural History of Selborne

• 1792: June 28, 1792 – Glow-worms abound on Baker’s hill.
• 1791: June 28, 1791 – When the Baromr is at 30 in S. Lambeth, it is 29-7 at Selborne, and 29-4 at Newton. My brother cut a good Romagna melon.
• 1789: June 28, 1789 – Daws come on the cherry-trees, for the fruit. While Mrs J. White & I were at S. Lambeth, we visited a Mrs Delhurst of that place, the wife of a officer, who being at Gibraltar at the time of the siege, underwent all the horrors of that long blockade, & bombardment. Even at this distance of time, somewhat of terror, & uneasiness seem to be imprinted on her features, so as to occasion a lasting impression. Nor is there any room for wonder; for fear is a violent passion, which frequently repeated like other strong emotions, must leave traces behind. Thus, thro’ the transports of inebriation, where men habituate themselves to excess in strong liquors, their faces contract an air of intoxication, even when they are cool and sober. This Lady, with many others, lodged for more than a twelve month in a cave of the rock to avoid the bombs & shot from the gun-boats, which annoyed the Southern part of the Istmus every night, as soon as it began to grow dark.
• 1788: June 28, 1788 – Mr. Reeve, a master Carpenter in the town of Lambeth, is employed in building a Conservatory for the Queen of Naples, the dimensions of which are 117 feet in length, 40 feet in breadth, 20 feet to the angle of the roof, & 10 feet to the eaves. This noble greenhouse ( the largest that has been constructed yet in this kingdom) is to be roofed with sash-work on both sides, the upper sashes of every other one of which are so contrived as to slide down with pullies: the sides also are to be lined with sashes which pull up & down: the Soiuth end also is to be sashed, but the N. end is to be close, thro’ which there is an entrance by a a pair of large doors.  That there might be no beams across to obstruct the view, the roof is supported by 16 pillars of cast-iron, weighing 500 weight each, which are so ramifyed at the top as to give the roof something  of a Gothic air, & to add to it’s strength.  The area is to  contain two beds or borders of earth, of 100 feet by 11 feet, around & between which there are roomy alleys or paths.  This whole deal frame-work, when finished, is to be taken to pieces, & so sent by sea to Naples.  The whole area of this house will contain 4680 square feet, & the two beds, or borders, 2200 square feet.  As the soft & southern climate of Naples produces oranges, lemons, pomgranades, citrons, & many trees & plants with which we croud our greenhouses; we are to suppose that this royal Conservatory will be furnished only with the most fragrant, choice, & rare vegetable productions of the Tropics.  The Gardener of the King of the two Sicilies is as Scotchman, who went over two years ago; & had been partner, or assistant to Mr Gordon.  If there is any defect in this edifice, is seems to lie in the sash-roofing, which appears to be rather too slight & delicate for the length of the bearings; tho’ each sash is stiffened by a small iron-rod; however, heavy snows, we may suppose, are seldom or never seen in Lat. 40-50 so as to weigh-in the glass.  But with regard to the brittle healing, large hail-storms from off the Apennine may some times be dreaded, which would occasion almost as great an havock among that fragil tiling, as a shower of cinders from the neighbouring Vesuvius.  The clatter and jingle on such an occasion would put a man in mind of that beautiful, & expressive line in Virgil, “Tam multa in tectis crepitans salit horrida grando.”
• 1786: June 28, 1786 – Bro: Thmas’s gardener stops his vines, & tacks them.  Bro: Ben’s vines have good wood, & show for much fruit.
• 1783: June 28, 1783 – Ticked the hay of the great meadow in lovely order: six jobbs. The little meadow is hardly made. The country people look with a kind of superstitious awe at the red louring aspect of the sun thro’ the fog… “Cum caput obscura nitidum ferrugine texit.”
• 1776: June 28, 1776 – Flowers in the garden make a gaudy appearance.
• 1774: June 28, 1774 – Young nestling rooks still. Young partriges, flyers.
• 1773: June 28, 1773 – St foin begins to be damaged.
• 1772: June 28, 1772 – Not rain enough to lay the dust.
• 1770: June 28, 1770 – Trufles begin to be found.  Chafers still appear.
• 1768: June 28, 1768 – Showers about.  Dryed & cocked my st. foin.

Translations from the Latin courtesy of Tann: “Tam multa in tectis crepitans salit horrida grando.”: As the heavy horrid hail hurtles rattling onto the rooftops [or possibly, onto the sheltering leaves]… “Cum caput obscura nitidum ferrugine texit.” : When he has hidden his shining head with a murky rust… (Virgil's Georgics)