The Natural History of Selborne

Much damage done to the corn, grass & hops by the hail; & many windows broken! Vast flood at Gracious street! vast flood at Kaker bridge! Nipped-off all the rose-buds on the tree in the yard opposite the parlor window in order to make a bloom in the autumn. No bloom succeeded.

Hops are very lousy, & want a good shower.  Washed the cherry-trees against the wall with a white-wash brush:  they are full of aphides, but have a vast crop of fruit.

Turned mould for future hot-bed. Showers about. Great rain at Farnham, Froil &c. Rain at London.

Hoed the quick-sets at the bottom of the hanger.

The cucumbers abate in their bearing; & always do at this time of year.

Elder begins to blow.  Many hundreds of annuals are now planted-out, which have needed no watering.  Wheat begins to shoot into ear.  Hardly any shell-snails are seen;  they were destroyed, & eaten by they thrushes last summer during the long dry season.  This year scarce a thrush, they were killed by the severe winter.

Dames violets, double, blow finely:  roses bud:  tulips gone: pinks bud.  Bees begin to swarm.  Tacked the vines the first time.  Began to plant out annuals in the basons in the field.  Ponds & some wells begin to be dry.

Shower in the night.  Planted-out vast quantities of annuals both in the borders, & basons; both in the fields, & gardens.

Watered the wall-trees well this evening with the engine: the leaves are not blotched & bloated this year, but many shoots are shrivelled, & covered with aphides.  Plums & pears abound; moderate crop of apples with me.  Vine-shoots very forward.

Roses begin to blow:  pinks bud; fraxinella blows.  Garden burnt to powder.