The Natural History of Selborne

Timothy sets his shell an edge against the sun.  The best Selborne hops were sold for 15 pounds, & 15 guineas per hund.

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.

My tall, streight Beech at the E. corner of Sparrow’s hanger, from a measurement taken by Rich. Becher & son, proves to be exactly 74 feet & 1/2 in in height.  The shaft is about 50 feet without a bough.

My well is very low; & the stream from Gracious street almost dry.

Bror Ben & wife came. Put my fine hyacinths into a bed, that were taken-up in the summer. Put also some good tulips, & striped crocus’s from Bro: Thos’s garden into beds.

Men sow wheat; but wish for more rain to moisten their fallows.  The quantity of potatoes planted in this parish was very great, & the produce, on ground unused to that root, prodigious.  David Long had two hundred bushels on half an acre.  Red or hog potatoes are sold for six pence pr bushel.  Mr Churton left us & went to Waverley: Nep. Tom & Harry left us, & went to Fyfield.

Wheat not so good as last year: 50 sheaves do not yield more than forty did this time twelvemonth.

Vast flock of ravens on the down.

Many ravens on the hill, & a flight of starlings.

Many swallows, & some bank-martins at Oakhanger-ponds.  A multitude of swallows at Benes-pond; and some few house-martins, which probably roost in the willows at the tail of that pond.  The swallows washed much; a sure sign that rain was at hand.