The Natural History of Selborne

Dogs-toothed violets blow.

Mutton per pound 5d, Veal 5d, Lamb 6d, Beef 4d.  At Selborne.

Dry & cold. Apricot begins to blow. Cucumber blows, female bloom without male. Snow melted. (A farmer told Mr Yaldon, that he saw two swallows on this way to Hawkley!!) A very large fall of timber, of about 1000 trees, has been cut this spring in the Holt-forest; one fifth of which belongs to the Grantee Lord Stawel. He lays claim also to the lop & top: but the poor of the parishes of Binsted, & Frinsham, says it belongs to them; & have actually in a riotous manner taken it away. One man that keeps a team has carryed home near forty stacks of wood. Forty nine of these people his Lordship has served with actions; & provided they do not make restitution, proposed to sue them. The timber, which is very fine, was winter-cut; vis: before barking time.

Many lettuces, both Coss & Dutch, have stood out the winter under the fruit wall.  They were covered with straw in the hard weather, for many weeks.

My crocus’s are in full bloom, & make a most gaudy show. Those eaten-off by the hares last year were not injured.

The crocus’s are full blown, & would make a fine show, if the sun would shine warm.  The ever-green-trees are not injured, as about London.  On this day a nightingale was heard at Bramshot!!

No snow ’till we came to Guild-down; deep snow on that ridge!  Much snow at Selborne in the fields: the hill deep in snow!  The country looks most dismally, like the dead of winter!  A few days ago our lanes would scarce have been passable for a chaise.

Brother Tho found a grass-hopper lark dead in his out-let: it seemed to be starved.  I was not aware that they were about in the winter.

The laurels, & laurustines are not injured by the severe weather.  Snow scarce passable in Newton-lane!

The tops of the blades of wheat are scorched with the frost.