The Natural History of Selborne

There seem to be two, if not three nightingales in my outlet.

Sowed sweet alyssum in basons on the borders.  Wheat improves very much: the women weed it.

The blackbirds & thrushes are so reduced by the severe weather, that I have seen in my out-let only one of the former, & not one of the latter; not one missle-thrush.

Auricula’s blow finely in the natural ground.  Owls have eggs.  The hanger almost all green.  Many trees in the Lythe in full leaf.  Beeches on the common hardly budding.

Pulled the first radishes.  Crown-imperials & fritillaria’s blown.  Shot two more green-finches.  There is a ring-dove’s nest in the American Juniper in the shrubbery: but as that spot begins to be much frequented, the brood will scarcely come to good.

Cut the first cucumber, a large one.  Golden weather.  The polyanths blow finely, especially the young seedlings from Bramshot-place, may of which will be curious.  Shot three green-finches, which pull-off the blossoms of the polyanths.

Earthed the annual beds.  Set up a copper-vane (arrow) on the brew-house.  Goody Hampton came to work in the garden for the summer.  Timothy the tortoise weighs 6ae 13 oun.; he weighed at first coming out last year only 6ae 11 1/4 oun.  He ate this morning the heart of a lettuce.

No ring-ouzels this spring: the severity of the season probably disconcerted their proceedings.

Men pole hops; sow barley, & sow clover in wheat.  Saw a cock white-throat.

Goose-berry bushes leaf: quicksets still naked.  Pile-wort in full bloom.  Tulips shoot, & are strong.  Sowed a pint of scarlet kidney-beans.