The Natural History of Selborne

Hop plants.

• 1791: October 8, 1791 – Earthed up the celeri, which is very gross, & large.
• 1790: October 8, 1790 – “there the snake throws her enamel’d skin”
  About the middle of this month we found in a field near a hedge the slough of a large snake, which seemed to have  been newly cast.  From circumstances it appeared as if turned wrong side outward, & drawn off backward, like a stocking, or a woman’s glove.  Not only the whole skin, but the scales from the very eyes are peeled off, & appear in the head of the slough like a pair of spectacles.  The reptile, at the time of changing his coat, had intangled himself intricately in the grass & weeds, so that the friction of the stlaks & blades might promote this curious shifting of his exuviae.  “lubrica serpens/Exuit in spinis vestem.”   It would be a most entertaining sight could a person be an eye-witness to such a feat, & see the snake in the act of changing his garment.  As the convexity of the scales of the eyes in the slough are now inward, that circumstance alone is a proof that the skin has been  turned: not to mention that now the present inside is much darker, than the outer.  If you look through the scales of the snake’s eyes from the concave side, viz: as the reptile used them, they lessen objects much.  Thus it appears from what has been said that snakes crawl out of the mouth of their own sloughs, & quit the tail part last; just as eels are skinned by a cook maid.  While the scales of the eyes are growing loose, & a new skin is forming, the creature, in appearance, must be blind, & feel itself in an awkward uneasy situation.
• 1788: October 9, 1788 – Bought of bright hops– 21 pounds; of brown– 49.
• 1787: October 8, 1787 – One waggon carries this year all the Selborne hops to Weyhill: last year there were many loads.  Jack Burbey’s brown owl washes often when a pan of water is set in its way.  Woodcock killed at Bramshot.
• 1785: October 8, 1785 – Brother Henry, Bet, & Charles left us.  Finished turning the mould in the mead.  Received from Mr. Edd Woods 5 gallons, & 1 pint of French brandy.
• 1784: October 8, 1784 – Mr Richardson came.
• 1783: October 8, 1783 – Neps. Th: H. & Hen. H. White went to Fyfield.
• 1782: October 8, 1782 – Sad weather for the barley.  Barley housed at Bramshot & other places, being green & damp, has heated violently, & endangered the firing of barns.  All the hops of this parish this year are carried to Wey-hill in two waggons: good crops require four or five.  Gathered two or three bunches of grapes: they have some colour, but are crude & sour.– By the evening being so light, there must be great N. Auroras.  Mr. Yalden finished mowing his barley.
• 1781: October 8, 1781 – Several women & children have eruptions on their hands, &c., is this owing to the lowness of the water in the wells, &c?  It seems this often befalls after they have been employed in hop-picking.
• 1778: October 8, 1778 – Not one wheatear to be seen on all the downs.  Swallows abound between Brighthelmstone & Beeding.  Not on ring-ouzel to be seen on the downs either coming or  going.
• 1777: October 8, 1777 – Fine autumnal weather.  Mr Richardon’s nectarines & peaches still in perfection.
• 1773: October 8, 1773 – Rooks frequent wallnut trees, & carry off the fruit.